Rozen en andere bloemen 1836

Anton Weiss made this delicate drawing of roses and other flowers sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The artist employed a technique called lithography, using a greasy crayon to draw on a prepared stone, which was then chemically treated to accept ink only where the crayon had been applied. Looking closely, you can see the subtle gradations of tone achieved through this method, giving the image a soft, almost photographic quality. The lithographic process, which emerged during this period, allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images. This was a period of burgeoning consumer culture, and the circulation of images like this one played a role in shaping taste and desire. While Weiss's drawing showcases considerable skill, lithography also hinted at the changing landscape of art production, where mechanical reproduction would increasingly blur the boundaries between unique artwork and mass-produced imagery. So, next time you see a print, consider the labor involved, and the wider forces of production that brought it into being.