Cleveland Museum of Art

Young Woman Reading

Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier

Date

1896

Medium

embossed color lithograph

Culture

France, 19th century

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Primarily a sculptor of medals, Charpentier used embossing techniques to lend three-dimensionality to this print featuring his typical subject matter featuring everyday life. Charpentier was also aware of Japanese woodcuts circulating in Paris during the late 19th century, which provided a precedent for using embossing to create pattern and a three-dimensional effect on a flat sheet of paper. The areas in relief add texture to the waves of the woman's hair and to her dress. Embossing was also used to create the vase of flowers just above the figure's open book. Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier was a proponent of Art Nouveau interior design and decoration.

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