Gezicht op de concertzaal van Arnhem 1827 - 1873

This print, "Gezicht op de concertzaal van Arnhem," was made by Hendrik Wilhelmus Last, likely in the mid-19th century. The technique used is lithography, a method that democratized image-making, allowing for relatively quick and inexpensive reproductions. Consider how the lithographic process itself relates to the scene depicted. The concert hall, a place of public gathering and entertainment, speaks to a burgeoning middle class with increased leisure time. Lithography, similarly, made art more accessible to this same demographic. The print's monochrome palette emphasizes the textures of the building's facade, the foliage, and the clothing of the people milling about. It's a scene of social activity, captured through a process that itself was deeply social, relying on the division of labor in print shops. The image hints at a world where art and culture are becoming increasingly intertwined with commerce and the rise of mass production. Appreciating the print, then, involves understanding its place within these interconnected histories.