Illustraties bij het verhaal 'Lotgevallen en Ontmoetingen van David Harthals', in de Leidse studentenalmanak, 1859 1859

These illustrations, created anonymously for a student almanac in Leiden in 1859, are made from ink on paper, a common and accessible medium at the time. The upper illustration employs line drawing, while the lower image is a silhouette. The artist likely used a fine pen or engraving tool to create the detailed lines and textures of the first image. The process involves carefully building up the image through controlled marks, a skill honed through practice and precision. The silhouette, on the other hand, would have been achieved by cutting out a shape from dark paper or painting directly onto the page. The choice of these different techniques affects the appearance and meaning of each image. The detailed drawing of a bourgeois family at dinner offers a sense of realism, while the stark silhouette of a father and son suggests a more symbolic or psychological interaction. In both, the relative ease and low cost of the materials speaks to a broad readership, engaging a community through accessible imagery. Ultimately, these simple illustrations demonstrate how the choice of materials and making processes shapes the narrative and reflects the social context of their creation, blurring the lines between commercial and artistic expression.