Vertrek van de bondgenoten naar het slagveld, 1815 1815

P. Boscetti et Comp. made this print in 1815, likely using a combination of etching and engraving techniques, then adding color, perhaps with stencils. The crisp lines and clear details suggest the use of metal plates, carefully incised to capture the likenesses of these allied leaders and their entourages. The figures stand stiffly, their uniforms meticulously rendered, conveying a sense of order and authority. The addition of color enlivens the scene, but also serves to differentiate the various ranks and nationalities. Prints like these were products of a burgeoning print industry, meeting a demand for images that documented and disseminated political events. They were relatively inexpensive to produce, allowing for wide distribution and contributing to a sense of shared national identity. Yet, behind the apparent celebration of power lies the labor of countless artisans, often anonymous, who translated the artist's vision into a tangible, reproducible form, reminding us of the complex social fabric underpinning even the most seemingly straightforward images.