A La Goutte d'Or -1886 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print in 1886 as sheet music cover for Aristide Bruant's song, "A La Goutte d'Or," using lithography, a printmaking technique that allows for a wide range of tones and textures. Unlike traditional fine art materials like oil paint or marble, lithography relies on the interaction of grease and water on a flat stone surface, offering an accessible medium for mass production. Steinlen’s choice of lithography speaks to the rise of popular culture and commercial art in late 19th-century Paris, a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization. The grainy texture, achieved through the lithographic process, lends a gritty realism to the scene, depicting working-class figures in the titular Parisian neighborhood, known for its poverty and vibrant street life. The print's immediacy, born from the lithographic process, underscores the importance of considering materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.