Réunion de Savants se proposant... c. 19th century

This lithograph was made by Honoré Daumier, though it's difficult to say exactly when. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water. In this case, Daumier would have drawn an image on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, and then treated the stone so that ink would adhere only to the drawn areas. The resulting print, as you can see, has a direct, sketch-like quality. Daumier was a master of this technique, using it to create satirical commentary on French society. Here, a group of self-important scientists proposes experimenting with new food substances, including what appears to be rats and frogs! The immediacy of lithography allowed Daumier to quickly respond to current events and social trends. The process itself, relatively inexpensive and reproducible, was perfectly suited to mass dissemination, making his work accessible to a wide audience. Consider the labor involved. From the quarrying of the stone, to the preparation of the drawing surface, to the printing process itself, lithography was a collaborative effort. The final print is a testament to the skill of both the artist and the printer.