And It is the Caress of Their Hands, plate eight from Love Possibly 1898 - 1899

Curator: Let's talk about Maurice Denis's lithograph from 1898-99, “And It is the Caress of Their Hands,” currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: This piece is fascinating; the delicate lithographic lines and watercolor give it a dreamy quality. What immediately strikes me is the contrast between the loosely defined background and the more detailed figures. What do you see in it? Curator: For me, the power lies in understanding its production. Denis wasn’t just depicting a scene; he was engaging with the burgeoning print market. Lithography democratized art, making it accessible beyond elite circles. How do you think the choice of lithography, as opposed to say, painting, changes the way the subject is perceived? Editor: That’s interesting; it almost feels like it bridges the gap between fine art and illustration, making it feel more intimate and relatable. The mass-produced nature feels at odds with the subject matter, which seems so personal. Curator: Precisely. The work is a commentary on consumption. A piece about "love," commodified, and made for the masses. The very act of producing multiples, inherently a labor-intensive process, shifts our reading of the subject. Consider the materiality itself: paper, ink, the press. Each element plays into the narrative. Where do you see other instances of labor, material, or consumption at play? Editor: The watercolor washes, for example. While seemingly effortless, each application requires intention, the artist carefully building up tones to achieve the final image. It's about time and decision-making... Curator: Exactly! Understanding the “how” reveals a great deal about the “why.” Considering these aspects encourages us to value art for not only its aesthetic qualities, but for the process, too. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. Thanks, I never thought about lithography in that way before. It’s helped me understand the piece in a deeper context, to see it as more than just a pretty image.