Gedenkplaat bij 50 jaar onafhankelijkheid van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden in 1863 1863

This print, made by Nicolaas Johannes Wilhelmus de Roode, commemorates 50 years of Dutch independence in 1863. It's a lithograph, a printing process that allows for detailed, almost drawing-like qualities. Lithography relies on the contrast between greasy and water-receptive areas on a flat stone or metal plate. The image is drawn with a greasy crayon, then the surface is wetted; ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This print would have required a skilled hand, both to create the image and to execute the printing, pulling each impression with care. The material— humble ink on paper—belies the complexity of the political message at play. The artist has depicted "The unity of the anti-liberals in the Second Chamber!" with three figures forming a tower, toppling another man to the ground. It is precisely through the print medium that this kind of political commentary could reach a wide audience, engaging viewers in the social and political issues of the time. The lithograph served as a powerful tool for disseminating ideas, blurring the lines between art, craft, and political discourse.