22. Cour de la Mosquée el Ahzar, au Kaire 1843

Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey created this print of the Courtyard of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo using the process of lithography. This method allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, catering to a growing market for depictions of faraway lands. The print captures the texture and light of the scene with remarkable precision. Consider the sharp lines defining the architectural details, achieved through the careful application of ink to the lithographic stone. This process involves a collaboration between the artist and the printmaker, each contributing their skills to the final image. Lithography, born from industrial innovation, democratized image-making. It speaks to a shift in artistic production, where skilled labor meets mechanical reproduction, allowing wider access to art and knowledge. It invites us to consider how such processes challenge traditional notions of art, craft, and their social significance.