Zeegezicht met verschillende soorten schepen 1837 - 1840

This is a print by Carel Christiaan Antony Last, showing a seascape with several ships. The technique involved is lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Lithography depends on the simple fact that grease and water don’t mix. The artist would have drawn the image on a flat stone surface using a greasy crayon, then treated the stone so that ink would adhere only to the drawn areas. Pressing paper to the stone transfers the image. What I find so fascinating about lithographs is how they reflect the rise of industrial capitalism. The relative ease and cheapness of production meant that images could be widely disseminated, contributing to new forms of mass culture and visual communication. In this print, the meticulous detail and tonal range achieved through lithography elevate what might have been considered a humble commercial technique. It reminds us that artistic value isn't inherent in a medium, but rather in how it’s employed and the social context in which it circulates.