Aanval door Noormannen op een rivierstad in Nederland, 9e eeuw 1853 - 1861

This lithograph, "Attack by Normans on a River City in the Netherlands, 9th Century", was made by Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren. The lithographic process is rooted in the exploitation of stone, quarried and polished to a pristine surface. The image is then drawn onto it using a greasy crayon. When water is applied, it adheres only to the bare stone, repelled by the greasy image. Ink, conversely, sticks only to the drawn areas. Pressing paper against the stone transfers the image, a repeatable process enabling mass production. Here, the sharp lines, detailed rendering of the figures and the burning city, all speak to the lithographer’s skill in manipulating the stone. Each impression is a direct transfer of the artist’s hand. The cultural significance lies in its accessibility. Lithography democratized image-making, allowing for wider dissemination of historical narratives. It blurs the line between fine art and craft, and invites us to consider the social context of its production and consumption.