Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 (plaat 17) 1847

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print, "Masquerade of the Utrecht Students," in 1846, using lithography. Lithography is a printmaking technique that relies on the contrast between greasy and non-greasy areas on a stone or metal plate. The artist draws on the surface with a greasy crayon, then the stone is treated with a chemical that makes the untouched areas receptive to water, while the drawn parts remain oil-receptive. When the surface is inked, the ink sticks only to the greasy image, which is then transferred to paper. The success of lithography lies in its capacity to reproduce delicate tonal gradations and fine details, evident here in the rendering of the students' elaborate costumes and horses. But there's also a certain irony in its application. The relative ease and reproducibility of lithography—a distinctly modern method—is here used to conjure an image of tradition, status, and pageantry. It speaks to the democratizing force of printmaking, its ability to put images in wide circulation, even those of elite social rituals.