On the balcony

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**On the Balcony** by Adolphe Mouiller captures a poised moment from mid-19th-century France created between 1848 and 1862 as a striking lithograph measuring 445 × 314 mm. Mouilleron, a skilled French printmaker, excelled in lithography—a revolutionary technique invented decades earlier that artists to draw directly on with greasy crayons, producing rich tonal grad and intricate details far superior to earlier. This medium democratized to fine art, enabling affordable reproductions of paintings for a growing middle-class audience during the Second Empire era. The title evokes an intimate balcony scene, likely drawing from Romantic or emerging Realist themes of everyday elegance and observation, set against the backdrop of France's cultural flourishing under Napoleon III. Lithography's versatility shines here, blending painterly softness with precise lines to suggest fabrics, light, and architecture. A collector's mark on the verso (Lugt 2228) underscores its provenance, linking it to esteemed European connoisseurs and highlighting its enduring value in print collections. Visitors will appreciate how Mouilleron's work bridges painting and printmaking, offering a window into 19th-century leisure and artistry—perfect for savoring the subtle poetry of a balcony perch.

About the Artist

Adolphe Mouilleron · 1820–1881

Adolphe Mouilleron (1820–1881) was a French painter and lithographer whose significant contributions to French printmaking and co-founding role in the artists' collective 'Les Artistes Contemporains' made him an important figure in mid-19th-century Parisian art. Born in Paris on December 20, 1820, Mouilleron achieved recognition through both his original lithographs and paintings, earning multiple...