Feestelijk bezoek te Nijmegen, 1831 1831 - 1832

Willem Hendrik Hoogkamer made this print, *Feestelijk bezoek te Nijmegen*, in 1831 using etching and possibly engraving. These printing processes have a fascinating history, closely tied to the rise of mass media. The image is meticulously made with the use of metal plates and acid. The artist would have painstakingly cut lines into the metal, areas that would hold ink and transfer the image onto paper. The result is a multiplication of the same image, transforming the meaning and use of the work. These techniques allowed images to circulate widely, serving purposes such as documentation, promotion, and political commentary. Consider the work involved in its production, the labor of Hoogkamer, the etcher, the printer, and distributors. The labor of these skilled workers is embedded in the print's very existence. By focusing on its materiality and mode of production, we gain insight into the social and economic context in which it was made.