Studie van een os 1838 - 1840

This is Pierre Frédéric Lehnert's 'Studie van een os', made using lithography, a printmaking process that uses a flat stone or metal plate. Lehnert's focus on lithography highlights its importance during the 19th century, when it was a key method for mass-producing images. Look closely, and you will notice the subtle variations in tone and texture achieved through layering and shading. The choice of lithography, instead of traditional drawing or painting methods, suggests an interest in the industrialized production of art. The artist had to be technically skilled, from preparing the lithographic stone to pulling the final print. Lithography allowed artists to reach a wider audience through prints, reflecting the changing dynamics of art production and consumption during the Industrial Revolution. Lehnert’s choice of this medium acknowledges the evolving relationship between art, labor, and the market.