Visitekaartje van lithograaf Albert van Monckhoven te Gent c. 1842 - 1875

This is a calling card made by Albert van Monckhoven, a lithographer working in Ghent, Belgium. The card is an advertisement for his services, printed using the lithographic process. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a flat stone, then treating it with chemicals so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This allows for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction. Notice how Van Monckhoven has used this technique to create a complex composition, including putti, musical scores, and various objects associated with the fine arts. The card even features a portrait of Alois Senefelder, the inventor of lithography. By emphasizing his mastery of this relatively new technology, Van Monckhoven positions himself as a modern, skilled tradesman, ready to serve the burgeoning commercial needs of his time. This calling card isn't just a piece of paper; it's a testament to the democratization of image-making during the Industrial Revolution.