Mr. S. Muller Fz Possibly 1895

This is Jan Veth’s portrait of Mr. S. Muller Fz, made with lithography, a printmaking process that bridges the gap between drawing and mechanical reproduction. The image’s quality is a direct result of the artist's hand. Veth has meticulously created the image on a stone or metal plate, using a grease-based medium, likely a crayon. The plate is then chemically treated so that only the drawn areas attract ink, allowing the image to be transferred to paper. Look closely, and you can see how the texture of the lithographic crayon gives a softness to the beard and hair, and a subtle depth to the face. The lithography process allowed for the relatively quick production of multiple impressions. This portrait was part of a series called “Portretten van De Kroniek v,” indicating its likely origin as illustrations in a periodical. Lithography democratized image-making, making art accessible to a wider audience, at a time when photography was still a complex and expensive process. By understanding lithography, we see how art and industry intertwine, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.