The Old Woman and the Two Maids, plate no. 118 from "Fables choisies de La Fontaine ornées de figures lithographiques..." 1813 - 1826

Horace Vernet created this lithograph, plate no. 118 from "Fables choisies de La Fontaine," using a printing process that was still relatively new in the 19th century. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone or metal plate, then using chemical processes to ensure that the ink adheres only to the drawn areas. The appeal of lithography lay in its relative ease and the way it enabled artists to achieve a painterly effect in print. Looking closely, you can see the subtle gradations and soft textures Vernet achieved, emulating the appearance of a drawing or watercolor. This print, like others in the series, was made to illustrate the fables of La Fontaine, and there is a social element there too. Consider the subject: an old woman and her servants, caught in a moment of domestic drama, as rendered through the then-modern medium of lithography. By focusing on the materials and processes, we can see how Vernet blurred the lines between fine art and popular illustration, all while subtly commenting on the social dynamics of his time.