Eene geschiedenis van mijnheer Van Krakem c. 1902

Henry Hennault created this lithograph titled "Eene geschiedenis van mijnheer Van Krakem". Given its status as a print, we can be sure it was made in multiples, a method of production intrinsically linked to the rise of mass media and visual culture. Lithography itself is an interesting process. Unlike traditional engraving, which requires laborious carving, lithography involves drawing on a flat stone surface with a greasy crayon, and then treating the stone with acid. This creates an image that can be repeatedly printed. In this instance, the application of color suggests multiple runs of the printing press, which is a labor-intensive task. Consider, too, the skill required to create such a detailed and multi-layered image with this process. Seen in this light, the image also speaks to the hierarchies inherent in modes of production: from the artist who made the original design to the skilled workers who operated the presses, to the distributors who got the image into circulation. These considerations remind us that every work of art is not just an individual expression, but also a product of social and economic forces.