Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 (plaat 9) 1847

This lithograph, "Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 (plaat 9)," was made by Carel Christiaan Antony Last in 1846. Lithography is a printmaking process, and relies on the simple concept that oil and water don't mix. The design is drawn on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, and then treated with chemicals so that only the drawn areas will hold ink. It is a relatively fast and cheap way to make multiple copies of an image, that was very popular in the 19th century. The choice of lithography here is telling, the image portrays the members of a student society dressed in historical costumes and parading on horseback. Lithography allowed Last to efficiently disseminate imagery of the student masquerade to a broad audience. This speaks to a growing desire for visibility and social presence amongst the student population, and the democratization of image production at this time. The print bridges the gap between elite spectacle and popular consumption.