Alphonse Daudet 1893

This is Eugene Carriere's portrait of Alphonse Daudet, achieved through the subtle technique of lithography. This printmaking process hinges on the interplay of oil and water, a principle used to transfer an image from a stone or metal plate to paper. Look closely, and you'll notice how Carriere masterfully employs this medium to create a soft, almost dreamlike effect. The image is built up from countless tiny marks, achieving a tonal range that seems to hover between presence and absence. It’s a technique that invites contemplation, drawing us into Daudet's introspective gaze. The choice of lithography here is crucial, elevating what could have been a straightforward portrait to a work imbued with atmosphere and emotion. Carriere treats the medium almost sculpturally, coaxing forth a hazy, ethereal quality. This challenges our assumptions about the graphic arts, and asks us to consider printmaking as more than just a reproductive technique, but as a realm of artistic exploration in its own right.