Romeinse munten 1839 - 1863

Jan Dam Steuerwald made this print of Roman coins in the 19th century using a technique called lithography. This was a fairly new method at the time, capable of capturing fine details, and infinitely reproducible. Look closely, and you can see how Steuerwald used the medium to full effect. The texture of the coins almost seems palpable. Now, consider what this print is actually showing: money. Coins were among the first mass-produced objects in European history. They were made for one reason only: to facilitate economic transactions, the very engine of capitalism. What does it mean to reproduce these objects yet again, but this time as images on a page? It suggests that in the 19th century, the mechanical reproduction of money itself had become a subject worthy of attention. Through lithography, Steuerwald elevates the coin to the status of art. He invites us to contemplate the power of materials, making, and context in understanding an artwork's full meaning.