Voor het plakboek 1875 - 1903

Curator: Here we have "Voor het plakboek" from sometime between 1875 and 1903, a lithograph printed by I. de Haan of Haarlem. My first impression is that it's trying to be playful but something feels off. The composition is a grid of vignettes and there's a bizarre mix of tones and subjects. Editor: Absolutely. I'm immediately drawn to how this particular lithograph engages with mass production and its social role. We must consider the printmaking techniques that allowed for such widespread distribution. Curator: Well, when you examine the composition, there seems to be little hierarchy in the placement of these scenes. Some portrayals like “Een indiaan” or “Een chineesch huisgezin” now appear deeply problematic. Does the method of production necessarily excuse the messages being conveyed? Editor: I'm more interested in examining what its existence tells us about the material culture of the time. Notice how lithography made illustrations affordable, reflecting the increased consumerism. Each scene functions almost like a collectible trading card depicting narratives and stereotypes accessible across societal strata. Curator: But can't we analyze this visually, just on its aesthetic merits? The lithographic printing has areas with blotchy color registration. I find it visually jarring. And notice the figures are outlined with bold strokes, it really flattens any sense of depth. Editor: However, that crude production is essential to the artwork's meaning! This wasn't high art, it was meant for children's scrapbooks - disposable and replicable! The subject matter reflects popular narratives, constructing and reinforcing social behaviors and cultural perceptions for mass consumption. The materiality embodies ephemeral accessibility and the cultural agenda of that moment. Curator: Perhaps we're each focusing on different parts of the overall process of dissemination and on the production of the print as a manufactured good rather than its intrinsic visual merit. Editor: Precisely. Looking at the interplay of accessibility and technique tells us more about its place in society.