Hier ziet men 't / Krijgs rumoer, van / Vaandrik en tamboer 1806 - 1830

Johan Noman, who died in 1833, made this print using a woodblock, a technique dating back centuries. The process begins with a block of wood, into which the artist carves an image in reverse. The remaining raised surface is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the design. This particular print shows three soldiers and a decorative border with cherubs and foliage. The linear quality, and the areas of flat tone, are characteristic of woodcut. But the significance of this print goes beyond its aesthetic qualities. Woodcuts like this one were relatively inexpensive to produce, making printed images accessible to a wide audience. This print's subject matter, soldiers, hints at its possible role in shaping public sentiment, in the way that it conveys the pomp of military power. The multiple impressions made from the block would have spread this message far and wide. Considering this print through the lens of its making reminds us that even seemingly simple images can carry complex cultural and social meanings.