Vrouw en zwaluwen 1845 - 1904

This print, titled "Woman and Swallows," was made by Christiaan Bos, though the exact date is unknown. It is made using a printing technique called 'stone lithography', a commercial method for mass producing images on paper, at relatively low cost. Lithography is reliant on the chemistry between grease and water. The design is drawn with a greasy substance onto a smooth limestone surface and then treated with acid. Ink sticks to the greasy parts only, and the image is printed. The texture is smooth and the lines are fine and delicate. Notice how the artist has used the subtle gradations of tone, achieved through lithography, to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The woman in the print seems lost in thought, perhaps reflecting on the changing seasons and the departure of the swallows. Lithography democratized image-making, making art more accessible to a wider audience, at the expense of skilled handwork. This print reminds us that art is not just about the image, but also the materials and processes used to create it, and the social and economic context in which it was made.