Uniform van de officieren van de rijdende artillerie, 1845 1845

Louis Salomon Leman created this print of the Uniform van de officieren van de rijdende artillerie in 1845. The printmaking process itself is quite fascinating. An image is etched onto a metal plate, and then ink is applied, transferring the design to paper, but in reverse! Looking closely, you can see a linear quality, especially in the rendering of the horse's musculature, which speaks to the incised lines of the plate. The print is also hand-colored, adding depth and richness to the officer's uniform and the surrounding landscape. Consider the social context: the print was made at a time of heightened nationalism and military expansion. Uniforms were not just practical garments, but powerful symbols of status, and the skilled labor that went into producing the officer's attire—the weaving of fabric, the tailoring of the jacket, the crafting of buttons—represents a complex web of industry and labor. This print immortalizes that image, but also the work it represents.