19th Century Prints. During the nineteenth century the productivity of presses increased greatly, partly because of improvements in their construction and partly because of the use of steam to power them. As a result, printing became more affordable and accessible to the working class. Reference: Prepressure.
Below are some examples of 19th century prints including a lithograph by Eugene Delacroix of the Italian Theater in 1821 and a Japanese woodblock print from 1830.
This lithograph, produced by Eugène Delacroix in 1821, shows the Italian theater being personified by Rossini who is in contemporary dress and shown as a prolific creator—music scores spill from his pockets as he raises by the sheer strength of his arms the characters from his works: Otello, Desdemona, and Figaro. Delacroix thus provides a highly effective and unambiguous visual translation of Stendhal’s ideas published in Le Miroir, posing as a defender of Romantic Modernism against academic Classicism.
Reference:The Louvre
This is a Japanese Woodblock print (surimono) in ink and color on paper. It dates to around 1830.
It is probably a New Year’s greeting from a shop whose name (Umenoya) includes the word plum (ume) which is embossed on the background and printed on the poem paper. The address is given at the upper left.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
‘Britannia’ printing press No.561, metal/ wood/ leather, made by Benjamin Porter, machinist, Leeds, England, 1835, used by F.T. Wimble & Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, [1868-1970]
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
This is a late 19th century color lithograph of the United States Fire Company of Philadelphia by G G Heiss.
It sold for 625 USD at Sotheby’s in 2019
Portrait of Mr Stuart Robson as Slender in Act I, Scene 1 of Merry Wives of Windsor. Photogravure by Gebbie & Co. 1888
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
During the 19th century some lithographs would have been hand colored such as this print published by Smith Brothers & Co, of Habana which was printed in 1851 on wove paper
It sold for £ 892 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020
