Cover for the portfolio, The Painters-Lithographers (Les Peintres Lithographes) 1892

Alexandre Lunois created this cover for a portfolio of lithographs using crayon, brush, and spatter lithography. The image depicts a man and woman examining a print, with a lithographic workshop visible in the background. Made in France during the late 19th century, this print speaks to the growing interest in printmaking as a fine art, not just a commercial medium. The portfolio itself, "Les Peintres Lithographes," signals a shift. It elevates printmaking to the level of painting. It shows us the institutional change of graphic arts entering the academy. Consider the context: France, a hub of artistic innovation, witnessing the rise of the bourgeoisie and the art market. Artists like Lunois challenged traditional hierarchies, blurring the lines between high and low art. Further research into exhibition records and critical reviews of the time would reveal the reception of such portfolios and their role in shaping artistic taste. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is not created in a vacuum. It is a product of its time, reflecting social, economic, and cultural forces at play.