Monument ter nagedachtenis aan Gebhard Leberecht Blücher von Wahlstatt after 1819

This print, created by W. Johnston sometime in the 19th century, is a memorial to Gebhard Leberecht Blücher von Wahlstatt, a Prussian general. It was made using an intaglio process, likely etching or engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate to hold ink. The design has a deliberately handmade character. The textures created by the matrix of tiny lines would have been very labor-intensive to produce. It shows a monument to Blücher, built out of books and weapons, in a landscape of trees, rivers, and city on the horizon. The tools of war and intellect, combined with the natural world, create a complex tribute to the general’s legacy. This print reflects a pre-photographic era, when images like these were a primary means of disseminating information and commemorating historical figures. The handcrafted quality of the print underscores the value placed on skilled labor and the artistic traditions of the time, challenging any simple distinction between fine art and craft.