The Dark Veinlet from The Butterflies and Moths of America Part 3 1862

This small, chromolithographed card, “The Dark Veinlet,” was produced by Louis Prang & Co., a firm that flourished in the late 19th century. Chromolithography was a color printing technique, using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to create a layered image. The beauty of these cards lies in their production process. It required skilled artisans to transfer an image onto a series of lithographic stones, and then meticulously apply different colors in sequence. Each layer of color adds depth and dimension to the image, resulting in a rich, detailed print. Cards like these were not considered high art; they were a product of mass culture and were a widespread form of visual communication. But consider the labor and expertise involved. Chromolithography democratized art, making colorful images accessible to a wider audience beyond paintings, while embedding a whole social network within its making. So next time you see a printed image, think of the artistry and effort behind it.