Cacatoës et magnolia, bordure. Souris blanches. 1897

This print, "Cacatoës et magnolia, bordure. Souris blanches", was made by Maurice Pillard Verneuil using the technique of lithography. The smooth surface and consistent color application are characteristic of this process. The flat, decorative style of this work disguises the labor required to create it. Lithography is a printmaking technique in which an image is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then printed using the principle that oil and water repel each other. Verneuil's choice of this printmaking process allowed him to create detailed designs which could be reproduced multiple times on a mass scale. This speaks to broader social themes of industrial production and consumption in the late 19th and early 20th century. It's worth remembering that the beauty of this image is intertwined with the labor and the means of its production. By understanding the materials, making, and social context, we gain a deeper insight into the artwork's full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.