Militaire muziek / Musique militaire 1866 - 1902

Franciscus Antonius Beersmans made this print of a military band, using a method called lithography. This was a relatively new process in the 19th century, allowing for the cheap reproduction of images. Notice how the material qualities of lithography have influenced the image’s appearance. The use of a flat stone as the printing surface gives the image a distinct flatness, with the colors applied in thin, even layers. The relative ease of lithography meant that images like this one could be widely distributed, shaping popular perceptions. Consider the social context: military imagery had a ready market. These were not exactly traditional artistic materials, but a product of a rapidly industrializing world. The print bears witness to the democratization of image-making during this period. By understanding the materials, we can get closer to understanding the culture that made this image possible.