Standing, Sitting, and Bathing Girls near a Tree (Stehende, sitzendes und badendes Madchen am Baum) 1920 - 1921

Otto Mueller made this lithograph, Standing, Sitting, and Bathing Girls near a Tree, using a grease-based crayon on a flat slab of limestone. The printmaking process, in general, has deep ties to industrial production, allowing artists to reproduce images easily and affordably. The velvety blacks and grays are achieved through the careful application of the crayon. Areas that hold more grease attract more ink, resulting in darker tones. It’s a direct way of drawing, very similar to putting charcoal to paper. But here, the pressure of the artist’s hand, the material qualities of the crayon, and the absorbent nature of the stone all combine to create a very specific texture and range of tones. Notice how the artist uses broad, gestural strokes to define the figures and the surrounding landscape. Mueller's choice of lithography allowed him to explore themes of nature and the human form with both intimacy and repeatability. By embracing the possibilities of printmaking, he democratized his art, making it accessible to a wider audience, outside the traditional art market.