Portret van Robert de Montesquion 1895

James Abbott McNeill Whistler made this lithograph of Robert de Montesquiou using greasy crayon on a stone matrix. Whistler was above all interested in the evocative qualities of his materials, and this print is no exception. Here, the velvety black crayon yields a range of subtly modulated tones. Notice how the texture of the lithographic stone itself seems to come through in the final print, giving the image a slightly blurred, atmospheric quality. The lithographic process, although complex, allowed for a relative ease of reproduction, which in turn made art more accessible to a wider audience. The image speaks to the democratization of art through printmaking; though portraying an aristocratic subject, the medium itself challenges traditional hierarchies of artistic production. Whistler here elevates printmaking to the level of fine art, urging us to reconsider our assumptions about artistic value. Ultimately, this work is as much about the materials and process as it is about the sitter.