Portret van Alexis Piron 1825 - 1842

This is Nicolas Maurin's portrait of Alexis Piron, made sometime in the first half of the 19th century, rendered in lithography. Think about the lithographic process and how that influenced the final image. It's a printmaking technique, so the image is multiplied, consumed, and distributed. Unlike painting, the printing press democratizes art making by making it widely accessible. The lithographic stone or plate is also key here; the smooth surface allowed for a freedom of line that mimicked drawing, making it an ideal medium for portraiture meant to emulate the detail achieved by hand. Consider the amount of work involved in the production process. From the artist creating the design on the lithographic stone, to the printing process itself, there is a collaboration between design, production, and the consumption of popular imagery. By focusing on lithography, we can understand the means by which images were circulated and consumed, and by which artistic reputations were made and sustained.