Omslag Hartstochten na J.B. Greuze

Jean Augustin Daiwaille made this lithograph, titled 'Omslag Hartstochten na J.B. Greuze', in Amsterdam. Lithography exploded in popularity in the early 19th century, offering a relatively affordable means of reproducing images, and therefore making art more accessible to a wider public. Daiwaille’s print is after Jean-Baptiste Greuze, a French painter known for his sentimental genre scenes, and his work’s wide distribution through prints. Here, Daiwaille re-presents Greuze through the new technology of lithography. The text indicates its origin as Amsterdam, from Daiwaille's own lithographic workshop. This print, then, is a product of a specific time and place, reflecting both the artistic tastes and technological advancements of 19th-century Europe. To fully understand Daiwaille's work, we might look to the social history of printmaking, the art market in the Netherlands, and the dissemination of French art abroad. Each of these resources help us see the ways in which art is always embedded in particular institutions and social conditions.