Straatmuzikanten met apen

About this artwork

inscription: ‘met Lithografische inkt op Calqeer papier J L C’

Art Historical Context

**Straatmuzikanten meten (Street Musicians with Mon)** by Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet captures a lively slice of 19th-century street life. Created between 1825 and 1882, this lithograph performers with their trained monkeys, a popular form of urban entertainment in Europe during the Romantic era. Cornet, a skilled practitioner of the medium, highlights the vibrant energy of everyday performers, evoking the bustling streets where music and spectacle drew crowds amid rapid industrialization. Lithography, the artwork's medium, was a revolutionary technique by the early 1800s, allowing artists to draw directly on stone with greasy ink for multiple impressions. Here, Cornet notes its use explicitly in the inscription: *‘met Lithografische inkt op Calqeer papier J L C’*—with lithographic ink on calendered paper—emphasizing the smooth, high-quality surface ideal for fine details. Measuring just 158mm high by 225mm wide, the print's intimate scale made it accessible for collectors, democratizing art beyond oil paintings. This piece reflects lithography's cultural role in documenting social scenes, preserving fleeting moments of joy and hardship. Visitors will appreciate how Cornet's work bridges fine art and popular culture, offering a window into the colorful world of street performers.

About the Artist

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet · 1815–1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815–1882) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and museum curator whose career bridged artistic practice and cultural preservation. Born in Leiden in 1815, Cornet devoted his life to documenting Dutch history and culture through his paintings and drawings while simultaneously working to preserve the nation's artistic heritage as head of Leiden's Prentenkabinet (Prints Cabin...