Vrouw die vogel vrijlaat 1845 - 1904

Christiaan Bos created this print, "Woman Releasing a Bird," using lithography, a process rooted in the industrial revolution. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making art more accessible, but also potentially commodifying it. The print's tones and textures were achieved by drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. It's fascinating to think of the artist's hand movements translated into this detailed image, one that could be replicated multiple times. The social context is rich: consider the symbolism of the bird, the woman’s dress and the setting, all reproduced and consumed in a society grappling with changing ideas about class, labor, and freedom. So, next time you look at a print, remember that the "easy" image in front of you is a product of labor and materiality, and a telling reflection of its time.