Maria met Christuskind op schoot 1850s

This image of Maria with the Christ Child was created by Jakob Melcher, sometime in the 19th century, using a printing technique called lithography. Lithography is a fascinating process, because it relies on the simple idea that oil and water don't mix. The artist draws an image onto a flat stone or metal plate using a greasy crayon or ink. The stone is then treated with a chemical solution, which fixes the drawing and makes the non-image areas receptive to water. When the surface is dampened and then inked, the ink only sticks to the greasy image. Paper is then pressed against the surface, transferring the image. Lithography was a relatively inexpensive way to produce images, and became incredibly popular in the 19th century, used for everything from fine art prints to advertising posters. So, while Melcher's image depicts a traditional religious subject, the means of its production—a technology associated with mass production and commercial culture—speaks to the changing role of art in society at that time. It prompts us to consider how these techniques democratized image-making, making art accessible to a wider audience.