Utrechtse maskerade van 1886 (tweede plaat) 1886

Anthony Grolman made this print in 1886, depicting a masquerade in Utrecht. The printmaking process is critical to understanding this work. Unlike painting or sculpture, printmaking allows for the mass production of images. This democratization of art was transformative, making it possible for a broader audience to engage with visual culture. The graphic arts also allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive distribution of images through mass media. The materiality of a print—the paper, the ink, the precise registration of colors—is all part of the experience. Grolman’s masquerade plays with notions of authenticity and performance, which are heightened by the work’s status as a produced image. By appreciating the materials and processes of printmaking, we gain insight into the relationship between art, industry, and society.