Scènes uit Jongelingsdroomen door Jan van Beers 1842 - 1876

This print, 'Scènes uit Jongelingsdroomen door Jan van Beers,' was made by Carel Christiaan Antony Last using lithography, a chemical process allowing image transfer from stone or metal to paper. Lithography democratized image production in the 19th century, enabling affordable reproductions for mass consumption. Here, it captures Jan van Beers' romantic scenes, perhaps reflecting the dreams and aspirations of young people at the time. The process itself is fascinating: the artist draws on a stone, treats it with chemicals to fix the image, then prints multiple copies. Lithography enabled the rise of commercial art, and the reproduction of imagery on an unprecedented scale. It facilitated the spread of information and ideas, catering to a growing consumer culture. Consider the labor involved in the production of each print, from quarrying and preparing the lithographic stone, to printing and distribution. By focusing on these aspects, we move beyond the image itself, and toward the system that brought it into being.