Verkleedpartij bij een gezelschap in een interieur 1833

This lithograph was made by Jean-Baptiste Madou, and it captures a group engaged in a 'Verkleedpartij,' or costume party, inside a well-appointed room. The lithographic process involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone, then treating it chemically so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This printmaking technique allowed for relatively quick reproduction and dissemination of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience, which mirrors the democratization of leisure and fashion during the 19th century. The lithograph captures a moment of bourgeois leisure, where dressing up and role-playing were forms of entertainment, reflecting a society that could afford such pastimes. Madou's work invites us to consider not just the scene depicted, but also the social context that made such gatherings possible, and how printmaking contributed to shaping and reflecting cultural trends.