Medaillon met Vrijwillige Jagers der Leidse Hogeschool, 1830 1830

Michel Mourot made this print in 1830 using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Instead of laboriously engraving a metal plate, the artist draws on limestone with a greasy crayon. Lithography allowed for relatively quick and cheap reproductions, influencing commercial and political expression. In this print, the texture is almost like a drawing or watercolor. The artist would have been able to create a smooth tonality that would have been difficult to achieve with older methods. This print celebrates the Leiden University volunteer riflemen, depicting them with their rifles and gear. What is interesting is the way the image is put together, like a collage of emblems. Flags, weapons, an allegorical angel, and the riflemen themselves all come together to signify the values of civic duty and readiness to defend the nation. Mourot’s print reminds us that art is always intertwined with social and political forces.