Napoleon bezoekt de zieken in het pesthuis te Jaffa 1827

This print, ‘Napoleon bezoekt de zieken in het pesthuis te Jaffa’, was made by Auguste Raffet in the 19th century. Raffet was a master of lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water. Lithography’s direct, gestural quality perfectly suited Raffet’s Romantic sensibility. The velvety blacks and subtle greys convey the grim atmosphere of the scene. Lithography's reliance on drawing gave artists greater freedom than traditional engraving. This allowed for the rapid dissemination of imagery, aligning with the rise of mass media and a growing public sphere. The image depicts Napoleon visiting plague-stricken soldiers in Jaffa. This moment, fraught with risk and emotion, is made even more vivid by the immediacy of the lithographic medium. The print, produced through industrial means, allowed Raffet to broadcast Napoleon's bravery to a wide audience, shaping public perception of the Emperor. The material of lithography is key to understanding its cultural impact. By democratizing image production, it blurred lines between fine art and popular culture.