Twee vrouwen bij een schrijftafel met brieven 1827 - 1829

This print, by Charles Philipon, depicts two women at a writing table with letters. It's made with lithography, a printmaking process which allows for nuanced tonal variations. This technique involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then applying ink, which adheres only to the drawn areas. The print's material qualities are integral to its satirical message. Lithography, by the 19th century, had become a medium of mass production, enabling the wide dissemination of images and ideas. The subject of the print, women and their correspondence, also speaks to the rise of literacy and communication in society. Consider how the act of writing and receiving letters would have been a significant social activity, particularly for women. The print, made possible by industrial advances, becomes a commentary on those very changes. It blurs boundaries between art and social critique, inviting us to examine how techniques reflect broader cultural shifts.