Dronken mensenmassa met waterspuit bedwongen 1805

This print, 'Drunken Crowd Subdued with Water Spray,' was made by Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is a hand-colored etching, a process that combines the graphic precision of line with the subtle application of color washes. Etching allows for the easy reproduction of images, which ties it to the rise of print culture and mass media. But don't overlook the handwork involved. The etcher would have carefully transferred his design to a metal plate, and then used acid to bite into the lines. A skilled printer then made impressions, and finally, someone applied the colors by hand, likely dividing up the labor. The scene depicts a crowd of revelers being dispersed by authorities using water, giving us insight into the social control tactics of the time. The print's widespread distribution would have reinforced these power dynamics, contributing to the shaping of public opinion.