Dageraad en Nacht 1887

Henri Fantin-Latour made this lithograph print, Dageraad en Nacht, using a waxy crayon applied to a flat slab of limestone. This allowed him to create a soft, tonal drawing, which was then transferred to paper. The lithographic process democratized image-making in the 19th century, making art more accessible because of the multiple reproductions it allowed. The image itself is a Romantic fantasy, but the lithography technique is rooted in an industrial logic of reproducibility. The contrast is fascinating, as it brings into question the status of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. The velvety blacks and hazy grays, achieved through careful manipulation of the crayon on stone, give a dreamlike quality to the scene. The artist evokes a sense of ethereal beauty, contrasting the mythological figures with the grounded, labor-intensive process of printmaking. It's a reminder that even the most imaginative visions are brought to life through material means, implicating art and labor.