Reizigers gaan van boord in Boulogne-sur-Mer 1847

Jean-Baptiste Arnout made this print of passengers disembarking in Boulogne-sur-Mer, using lithography, a method that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Unlike traditional engraving on metal, lithography involves drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon. This design is then chemically fixed, allowing multiple impressions to be printed quickly and cheaply. Look closely, and you'll see the subtle texture that comes from the porous surface of the lithographic stone. The choice of lithography here is significant. It allowed for the mass production of images, reflecting the era's burgeoning tourism and the rise of a middle class eager to consume picturesque views. The print itself becomes a souvenir, a token of travel made accessible through industrial means. Considering this artwork, it challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and commercial production. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images can carry complex social and economic meanings, embedded in their very making.