Meisje met roos before 1869

This 'Girl with Rose' was made by Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter, using lithography, a printing process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. The appeal of lithography lay in its relative ease and affordability. Unlike traditional engraving, which demanded laborious carving into metal, lithography relies on the chemical repulsion between grease and water on a flat stone surface. The artist draws directly onto the stone with a greasy crayon, and the print is then made. This directness allowed for a more expressive line, and a softer tonal range, visible in the delicate rendering of the girl's features and the subtle shading of her dress. The rise of lithography was closely tied to the burgeoning print culture of the time, and the increasing demand for affordable images. This portrait, likely made in multiples, speaks to a wider social context of shifting class structures, and the desire for personal representation. By understanding the process of its making, we can appreciate how this seemingly simple image reflects broader cultural and economic forces.