Sagittaire 1896

This is Maurice Pillard Verneuil’s ‘Sagittaire,’ likely made in the early 20th century, using pochoir, a printmaking technique. It’s essentially a high-end stencil process and was embraced during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. The colors here - soft greens and whites, with delicate outlines - have a direct relationship to the process, which allows for very fine, precise application. Each color area is individually stenciled, often by hand, building up the image layer by layer. In a way, it mirrors the growth of the plant itself, element by element. The image has an interesting connection to labor; Pochoir was valued for the ability to create near-facsimiles of original artworks or designs, and the skilled artisans who produced them were often uncredited. It also democratized access to art, and allowed for wider consumption of patterns and motifs. So next time you see a print like this, consider the handwork and skill involved. The material and the making – they’re all part of the story.