Gezicht op Alphen aan den Rijn 1847 - 1865

This print, entitled 'Gezicht op Alphen aan den Rijn', was made by an anonymous artist using lithography, a process dependent on the industrial-scale availability of specific materials like Bavarian limestone and greasy crayons or inks. Lithography allows for a relatively quick way of making multiple images, and the soft, grainy texture seen here is characteristic of the technique. The artist likely drew directly onto the stone, and it is this drawing, and the artist’s hand, that defines the image. However, the print’s existence is tied to the rise of capitalism and consumer culture, as it could be widely distributed. The print offers a romantic view of a Dutch town, but consider that it was made possible by industrialization. This raises questions about the relationship between art, labor, and progress. Does the print celebrate or critique the changing world it depicts?