Sleutel op de prent: Lodewijk XVI bij het schavot 1795

This print, depicting Louis XVI at the scaffold, was made anonymously, likely shortly after the event it portrays. The technique involved is a relatively simple one: etching, which allowed for the wide dissemination of images through printed media. Consider the material implications of this choice. Rather than a unique, hand-worked painting or sculpture, this is a mass-produced object, meant for circulation. The relatively spare aesthetic also suggests a certain speed of production. The artist was likely working to satisfy a public demand for images of this pivotal moment in history. The image becomes less about the individual artistry and more about the broader political and social context. The print's power resides in its capacity to inform and shape public opinion, reflecting the revolutionary fervor of the time. By understanding the means of its production and consumption, we gain a deeper appreciation of its cultural impact.