Katafalk voor de lijkdienst van de koningin van België 1850 - 1888

Jean Théodore Joseph Linnig created this print, depicting the catafalque for the funeral service of the Queen of Belgium. The printmaking process—likely etching or engraving— itself carries historical weight. It was a means of mass production, democratizing images and ideas. Notice how Linnig uses the linear quality of the printmaking to create an illusion of depth, the draped fabric and architectural details brought to life through precise, repetitive marks. But think about this image in the context of labor: printmaking, though capable of mass production, still required skilled artisans. In contrast, the catafalque itself, implied in the image, would have been an even more intensive undertaking, involving many different kinds of makers, from weavers and embroiderers to carpenters and metalworkers. The image becomes an echo of that vast expenditure of human energy and material, a reminder that even in death, social hierarchies are materially constructed. Ultimately, viewing this artwork invites us to reflect on the layers of production that constitute not just an image, but a society.