Ontwerp voor illustratie voor De Kolossus der Negentiende Eeuw door P.J. Andriessen (Textill., blz. 142); scène uit het leven van Napoleon 1877 - 1942

George Lodewijk de Wetstein Pfister made this illustration with graphite on paper, as a design for P.J. Andriessen's book, "The Colossus of the Nineteenth Century". The artist's choice of graphite is crucial. It allowed for detailed, shaded realism, typical of illustrations from that time. Note how the soft, silvery sheen creates an atmosphere of quiet domesticity, a poignant contrast to the grand narratives usually associated with Napoleon. Pfister's skill with graphite captures the texture of fabrics, the play of light, and the emotional weight of the scene, all with remarkable precision. But beyond technique, there’s a social commentary here. Illustration was a commercial art, tied to the rise of mass media. Through his craftsmanship, Pfister elevated it. He challenges us to see the value and labor embedded in everyday images, asking whether something made for mass consumption can still possess artistic merit and be used for social commentary.