La Belle Alliance: New Version 1838

John Doyle created this lithograph, La Belle Alliance, sometime in the early 19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the simple principle that oil and water don't mix. The artist would have drawn the image onto a flat stone surface using a greasy crayon or ink. The stone was then treated with chemicals so that only the drawn areas would attract ink. Finally, the image could be printed onto paper. Looking at the image, notice the linear quality, and the soft gradations of tone, a consequence of the lithographic process. The efficiency of printmaking allowed for mass production and distribution, and so this print speaks to a growing industry, and a burgeoning market for political satire. Doyle's caricatures critique the powerful, speaking to the social and political currents of the time. The relatively low cost of production meant that such critiques could reach a broad audience, influencing public opinion, and contributing to a more democratized visual culture. So, next time you encounter a print, remember that the medium is not just a means of reproduction, but a powerful tool for social commentary.