Paardenspel 1876 - 1893

G. Lhuer’s “Paardenspel,” is a print that presents a comic strip, a storyboard of sorts. The lithographic process allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, making art accessible to a broader audience. The material itself—paper—is humble. The lines and colors are simple, suggesting mass production, and the narrative sequences hints at a culture increasingly obsessed with speed, circulation and consumption. The printing press itself has a long history, but was particularly important in the industrial revolution, which democratized artistic expression and introduced complex social issues surrounding labor, politics, and consumption. Prints like this existed in an ecosystem of newspapers, posters, and advertisements. They blurred the boundaries between art, entertainment, and commerce. Looking closely at the print, you can see how the artist used the lithographic process to create a sequence of images with both aesthetic and narrative appeal. This piece challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. Instead, it invites us to consider the social, cultural, and political context in which it was created.