Aux Champs-Elysées c. 19th century

This lithograph was made by Honoré Daumier, who was active in France in the 19th century. It is printed on paper, a relatively inexpensive material. It is, thus, a work made for mass consumption, and would have been widely circulated in its day. Lithography is a fascinating technique. The artist draws on a stone with a greasy crayon, then applies ink that adheres to the greasy areas, allowing for multiple impressions. The marks are somewhat rough and ready here. Note the very visible hatching of the lines used to create depth and shadow. Daumier made thousands of such prints, commenting on Parisian society. Here, he critiques a man lost in his beer and the music in front of him, with all the humor that he could muster. It is the type of scene that could only be captured through the then-new technology of mechanical reproduction. This artwork challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by incorporating these new techniques.