Hondenkop van drie kanten gezien 1818 - 1876

This is a lithograph, 'Dog's Head Seen from Three Sides', made by Carel Christiaan Antony Last. The printmaking process, invented in the late 18th century, depends on the antipathy between grease and water. The artist likely drew with a greasy crayon onto a prepared slab of limestone, which was then treated with chemicals, inked, and printed. In this case, Last has used the lithographic process to great effect to give a sense of the dog's soft fur and wet nose. The marks are varied – from broad strokes to fine hatched lines – creating a convincing likeness. Lithography made the mass production of images far easier, cheaper, and faster. This, of course, had implications for artists. It allowed them to reach wider audiences with their work, and, like Last, to develop a unique style that set them apart from the crowd. So, the next time you see a print, remember that the materials and processes used to create it are just as important as the image itself.