J.M. Graveran
Medium
lithography
Dimensions
373; 247
About this artwork
lithografie
Art Historical Context
Behold *J.M. Graveran*, a striking lithograph created by French artist Alexandre Lacauch in 1848. 373 mm high by 247 mm wide, this work exemplifies the mid-19th-century boom in printmaking, when lithography emerged as a revolutionary technique. Invented just decades earlier, it allowed artists to draw directly limestone slabs with greasy crayon, exploiting the stone's natural repulsion of water and ink to produce detailed, tonal images in multiple editions—far more affordably than traditional engraving. Lacauchie's piece captures the era's fascination with portraiture, likely honoring J.M. Gr...
About the Artist
Alexandre Lacauchie
Alexandre Lacauchie, born Alexandre Marie Lacauchie on February 22, 1814, in Paris's former 2nd arrondissement, emerged from a vibrant urban milieu. The son of Marie-Alexandre Lacauchie and Pauline-Angélique Depoilly, who ran the Café Flamand near the Porte Saint-Martin, he grew up immersed in the lively theater district, residing there at least until 1835. In April 1839, he married Rosalie-Pamela...