Haven in Venetië 1851 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this work, Haven in Venetië, using lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the contrast between greasy and non-greasy areas on a flat stone or metal plate. The velvety texture of the image is the direct result of this technique. The artist would have drawn the design onto the prepared surface with a greasy crayon, allowing the ink to adhere only to those areas, and then pressed it onto paper. The way lithography renders tonal variations is very specific, and quite unlike any other method of image-making. You can see this particularly in the water, and in the delicate rendering of the sky. Lithography was a relatively new medium in the 19th century, well-suited to capturing atmospheric effects and the subtleties of light. It also allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making art more accessible. This print democratizes the vision of Venice, moving away from grand painting towards something altogether more intimate.