Deeze, nieuwe prent kan ons vermelden, / De glorie der september helden, / En tevens al hun kloeke daden, / Om 't land en koning te verraden 1848 - 1881

Curator: Here we have a print titled "Deeze, nieuwe prent kan ons vermelden, / De glorie der september helden, / En tevens al hun kloeke daden, / Om 't land en koning te verraden," made by Lutkie & Cranenburg between 1848 and 1881. It is a drawing made with pen. Editor: It's quite an unusual composition. The grid of figures reminds me of a catalogue or even a pattern. How should we interpret it? Curator: Let's consider the materiality first. It's a print, meaning it was likely mass-produced. This implies a certain level of accessibility, and perhaps even a political purpose tied to distribution. The title speaks of September heroes who betrayed their king. Who would want to disseminate that message? And why through printmaking? Editor: So, not an artwork created for elites, but one meant for a broader public? Almost like propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved. Someone had to create the initial drawing, but then that design was transferred to a printing plate, and someone had to operate the press. The act of reproducing shifts how it would have been seen. Are these refined artistic gestures, or repetitive production? Editor: I never thought about how a print, made of a drawing, involves so much labor to make it what it is and what it stands for. Curator: The choice of printing would have kept production costs low, so you may have been looking at widespread distribution. The materials, method and intent here are inseparable. What have you found most engaging about this? Editor: Seeing this in a whole new light. The medium itself tells such a crucial story!