Gezicht op een vlag met het wapen van Utrecht c. 1860 - 1875

This is a photograph of the flag with the Utrecht coat of arms, made by George Lodewijk Mulder. In this albumen print, the flag drapes elegantly, adorned with the city's emblem. Mulder has used a photographic process that was popular in the 19th century, known for its fine detail and tonal range. The albumen is derived from egg whites, which are coated on paper and exposed to light through a negative, creating a sepia-toned image. Mulder’s choice of photography, rather than painting or drawing, is itself significant. Photography was a relatively new medium at the time, one that was bound up with industrial advances and the democratization of image-making. The albumen process demanded skill and precision, and the resulting photograph allowed for the wide circulation of this regional symbol. The photograph becomes a kind of manufactured artifact, reflective of industrial progress and modern civic identity.