Portrait of M. Chenard n.d.

Jean Antoine Laurent made this portrait of M. Chenard with lithography, a printmaking process that democratized image-making. Laurent drew his composition with a greasy crayon onto a flat stone matrix. Once the drawing was complete, the stone was treated with chemicals, allowing ink to adhere only to the drawn areas. The stark contrasts of black ink on white paper bring out the sitter's features and convey a sense of immediacy, as if the artist captured a fleeting moment. Lithography emerged alongside industrialization, and its accessibility allowed for the widespread distribution of images. Consider the labor involved in quarrying, preparing, and printing from these stones. It also offered new opportunities for artists like Laurent to reach wider audiences. The lithographic print challenges traditional notions of art, blurring boundaries between fine art and commercial reproduction.