Portret van Willem II, koning der Nederlanden 1840 - 1863

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this lithograph of Willem II, King of the Netherlands, using a stone plate and printing press. Lithography allowed for relatively quick reproduction. While perhaps not as directly connected to labor as a hand-drawn portrait, the mass production of imagery ties directly into the rise of consumer culture and industrialization. Observe the subtle gradations achieved in the shading, mimicking the tonal range of a drawing. This would have required careful preparation of the stone and precise control of the printing process. The evenness of the print suggests a well-maintained press and skilled handling, reflecting the systematized division of labor in printmaking workshops. Although it depicts a royal subject, lithography democratized image-making, and made portraits more accessible than painted likenesses. The choice of this medium therefore subtly shifts the dynamics of power and representation. Appreciating these nuances invites us to reconsider the hierarchy of art forms.