Historische optocht bij het tweede eeuwfeest van de Utrechtse Hogeschool, 1836 (plaat 7) 1837

This print, 'Historical parade at the second centenary of the Utrecht University' was made in 1836 by Victor Adam, using lithography, a printing process that allows for relatively quick and cheap reproduction. The technique involves drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treating the stone so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. From there, many prints can be pulled. Lithography democratized image-making in the 19th century. Suddenly, it was possible for the middle classes to have pictures like this one, showing public events. Before, such images would have been painstakingly hand-painted, making them expensive luxury items. Here, the lithographic line is delicate, mimicking the effect of a watercolor, but it was achieved through mechanical means. The artist is no longer a solitary genius, but part of a production process driven by technology and popular demand. The image gives us insight into the spectacle, but the process it was made with also tells us about a changing society.