Gezicht op de poorten van Havana c. 1848

Frédéric Mialhe’s "Gezicht op de poorten van Havana" is an interesting example of lithography, a printmaking technique which allows for a high degree of detail. In this work, the material and the process are as important as the image itself. Lithography relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water. The artist draws on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then applies ink, which adheres only to the drawn areas. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers. Here, Mialhe uses the technique to create a scene of Havana, Cuba. The print is detailed, capturing the architecture, the figures and even the atmospheric perspective. But what's also interesting is how the printmaking process would have made the image easily reproducible, allowing it to be widely distributed and consumed, contributing to a broader understanding of Havana, in an increasingly globalized world. Ultimately, understanding the materials and processes used to create this image allows us to appreciate not only its aesthetic qualities, but also its cultural significance and its place in a wider history of image-making.