Joseph est reconnu par ses frères / Jozef maakt zich bekend 1833 - 1856

This print, titled "Joseph est reconnu par ses frères," was made by Glenisson & Van Genechten. It's a fascinating example of chromolithography, a technique that boomed in the 19th century. Look closely, and you can see how the image is built up from layers of color, each applied with a separate printing stone. This meant a division of labor. Some workers were responsible for etching the stones, while others operated the printing presses. It was a far cry from the singular vision of a painter in their studio! Chromolithography was also used to churn out everything from advertisements to educational materials, as well as inexpensive fine art reproductions. Its ability to mass-produce images democratized access to visual culture. The visual cues and social context of this print offer insight into both skilled craft and burgeoning consumer culture of its time.