Nederlandsche Infanterie / Officier in winter tenue 1823 - 1827

Jean-Baptiste Madou created this print of a Dutch Infantry Officer in winter tenue using lithography, a printing process that relies on the skilled application of ink to a prepared stone or metal plate. The way the lithographic stone accepts and repels the ink is crucial to the image's character. Madou would have drawn directly onto the stone with a greasy crayon or ink, then the stone was treated with a chemical solution, allowing ink to adhere only to the drawn areas. The image is then printed by pressing paper against the inked stone. Look closely, and you can see the subtle texture of the print, quite different from a painting. Considered alongside other artworks, lithography democratized image production. Unlike earlier, more laborious printmaking techniques like engraving, lithography allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction. This had significant social implications, bringing images like this of military personnel to a wider audience, shaping popular perceptions of national identity and perhaps even valorizing the lives of those involved in conflict. By understanding its materiality and means of production, we can consider the print not just as an artwork, but as a cultural artifact embedded in a specific time and place.