Art Institute of Chicago

Delpech's Print Shop

Carle Vernet (French, 1758–1836)

Date

1818

Medium

Lithograph in black on off-white wove paper

Culture

France

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The invention of lithography at the end of the 18th century had an immediate and profound impact on the Parisian print market. In just 20 years, 18 lithographic workshops opened in Paris alone. In addition to their press operation, many master printers provided artists with a stone delivery service and a place to sell their prints. Delpech’s Print Shop depicts the earliest years of this burgeoning market. Carle Vernet’s image of likely customers for an album lithographique is also a testament to the affordability of prints, as he depicted patrons from various classes who are identifiable by their different styles of clothing and headdress.

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