Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 (plaat 1) 1847

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this print, 'Masquerade of the Utrecht Students, Plate 1', in 1846. It's rendered in a graphic medium—likely etching or engraving—which was ideal for mass production. The image shows a procession of students in costume, some on horseback, some playing instruments. Look closely at the crisp, precise lines and the way the artist has captured the textures of the clothing and the details of the instruments. These are not the spontaneous gestures of a painter, but rather the deliberate marks of a skilled printmaker. The print medium itself, with its capacity for repeatability, suggests the social context of student life, where shared experiences and traditions are often reproduced and passed down. This was a time of growing literacy and visual culture, and printed images like this one played a vital role in shaping public perception and collective identity. By understanding the materials and processes involved in its making, we can begin to appreciate the Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 not just as a historical document, but as a cultural artifact that reflects the values and aspirations of its time.