The technique of lithography was invented around the turn of the 19th century by a Bohemian named Alois Senefelder. This technique basically involves using the physical repulsive properties of oil and water to lay down an image on a metal sheet. By the mid-1800s, artists, cartographers, and authors were all employing lithography to share their works and publish to mass audiences. After the advent of "chromolithography," which enabled artists to create mass printings of their works, painters, authors, and other polymaths suddenly found themselves with the ability to reach audiences without having to hold exhibitions. The American naturalist, John Audubon, famously employed chromolithography to capture the scintillating and colorful features of American birds in a series of giant, hand set tomes. The artists of the 19th century liberally employed lithography in their works. Cézanne, Delacroix, and Monet all experimented with the form. One of the most famous lithographs of the century was created by the Spanish painter, Goya. This work, entitled "The Bulls of Bordeaux," was done in 1828. The German genius, Goethe, also used lithography to create and highlight his seminal work, "Faust." Modern lithographic techniques employ sophisticated devices and mechanisms to ensure adequate color coverage and layering. The chemicals involved in lithography can be caustic, so artists often require the aid of chemists and engineers to design advanced, large set lithographic works. Some misaligned lithographs from the earliest days of the technology are worth thousands of dollars in proof condition. |
