Liseuse (The Reader)
Medium
lithograph in black on china paper
Dimensions
sheet: 39.2 x 28.4 cm (15 7/16 x 11 3/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, gift in memory of Virginia H. Jackson
Accession Number
1996.151.60
Art Historical Context
**Liseuse (The)**, created by French artist Georges Daniel de Monid in 1895, invites visitors into a serene moment of quiet contemplation. This exquisite lithograph, printed in black ink on delicate china paper, measures 39.2 x 28.4 cm and captures the subtle grace of a woman immersed in reading. The choice of china paper—a thin, high-quality Asian import prized by 19th-century printmakersenhances the image's velvety textures and intricate details, allowing the ink to absorb deeply for a luminous effect. Monfreid, a multifaceted artist and close friend of Paul Gauguin, bridged Impressionism a...