Oude man troost jongeman 1851 - 1880

Bastiaan de Poorter created this lithograph, "Oude man troost jongeman," using a process rooted in the era’s industrial expansion. Lithography, unlike traditional etching or engraving, relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water to transfer an image. The matrix used here is not a metal plate, but a stone. The artist would have drawn directly onto the smooth surface with a greasy crayon, then treated the stone with acid. When dampened, the stone would repel ink in all areas except where the crayon had been applied. Consider the implications of this technique: It allowed for relatively quick and easy reproduction. It democratized image-making, aligning with the burgeoning print culture of the 19th century. De Poorter’s choice of lithography thus speaks to broader social shifts, where art became more accessible, mirroring the era’s evolving relationship between labor, production, and consumption.