Huis van de Engelse gezanten in Dijon 1850

Auguste Mathieu created this print of the Huis van de Engelse gezanten in Dijon using lithography, a technique that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, in contrast to laborious and expensive methods like etching or engraving. The process involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone or metal plate, then treating it with chemicals so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. The plate can then be pressed onto paper to create multiple identical prints. Mathieu’s choice of lithography reflects the growing demand for accessible imagery during this period, and the rise of visual culture. This print embodies a tension between art and industry, craftsmanship and mass production, inviting us to consider the social and economic forces that shaped artistic practice in the 19th century. It reminds us that the making of art is always interwoven with its historical context.