Trommelslagers van de koninklijke garde / Tambours de la garde royale 1800 - 1833

This print, “Drummers of the Royal Guard” was made by Philippus Jacobus Brepols. It is a color woodcut, a relief printing process where an image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. Woodcut is an old technique, but color woodcut requires an understanding of registration, as each color must be applied from a separate block. The stiffness of the wood, and the sharp tools needed to carve it, lend the print a graphic quality, making it well-suited for the depiction of strong silhouettes and bold colors. Note the areas of flat color, which give the image clarity and a touch of folksy charm, and the simple rendering of the drummers' uniforms. Prints like this were made in multiples, and were not considered "fine art" at the time, but rather a popular, relatively inexpensive product, bringing imagery into many people's lives. This delightful artwork reminds us that the story of art is inseparable from the history of materials and making.