The Family of the Lithographautoccini 1824

Hippolyte Bellangé created "The Family of the Lithographautoccini" as a lithograph. Bellangé was working during a period of significant social and political change in France. The print offers a satirical glimpse into the world of early lithography and its practitioners. The image presents a theatrical scene, complete with a curtain being drawn to reveal a group of artists and their works. The figures, presumably members of the "Lithographautoccini" family, are caricatured, perhaps to comment on the perceived eccentricities or pretensions of the artistic world. The text beneath the image refers to the family being apprenticed from Senegal, an interesting detail given France's colonial activities at the time. This highlights the relationship between artistic representation, social identity, and colonial power. The print invites us to consider the social dynamics within the art world. It suggests a narrative about identity, artistry, and cultural exchange, all filtered through the lens of 19th-century French society.