Vissen 1847

This printed page, “Vissen,” was produced by Jan Schuitemaker, and features multiple panels and text. The print medium is lithography, a process where images are drawn on stone or metal then transferred to paper. It allowed for relatively quick and cheap reproduction, ideal for illustrated magazines like this one. Note the contrast between the smooth surface of the paper and the fine linework of the images. Lithography enabled Schuitemaker to create detailed scenes that evoke a specific time and place, likely for mass consumption. Consider how the process of printing itself democratized art, making images accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. This reflects a shift in the art world towards broader social engagement, contrasting with older hierarchies. The printed image becomes a commodity, circulating within networks of distribution and consumption. This challenges traditional notions of the artwork as a unique, handcrafted object. Instead, we see art as a product of industrial processes, embedded in wider social and economic systems.