Raderstoomboot bij een kade 1800 - 1864

Willem Hendrik Hoogkamer's "Raderstoomboot bij een kade" is rendered through lithography, a printmaking process that democratized image production in the 19th century. The technique involves drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treating the stone so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This print celebrates a symbol of industrial progress: the paddle steamer. It’s depicted with a remarkable attention to detail that speaks to the printmaker’s skill. The lithographic process, with its reliance on mechanical reproduction, mirrors the industrialization represented by the ship itself. The image is not unique, but multiplied, reflecting the shift from handcrafted uniqueness to mass production. The print, therefore, becomes an artifact of its time.