Centennial of Lithography - Pierre Puvis de Chavannes

A 1895 lithographic poster by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, featuring a classical allegory to celebrate the centenary of the lithographic process.

Created in 1895, this lithographic poster commemorates the centenary of the invention of lithography. Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, a figure associated with the Symbolist movement, applies his characteristic muted palette and classical restraint to this commercial commission. The composition features a standing female figure, draped in simple robes, who presents a sheet of paper to a kneeling putto. The putto, positioned beside a lithographic stone, gazes upward with an expression of reverence. The background consists of dense, hatched lines in shades of deep teal and forest green, which provide a textured contrast to the smooth, pale forms of the figures. The typography at the top, announcing the exhibition at the Galerie Rapp in the Champ de Mars, is integrated into the overall design with a clarity typical of late nineteenth-century French poster art. Puvis de Chavannes is known for his large-scale mural paintings, and this work reflects his ability to translate monumental concepts into a smaller, graphic format. The figures possess a sculptural quality, their forms defined by soft contours rather than sharp outlines. The scene avoids the frenetic energy often found in contemporary advertising posters of the period, opting instead for a quiet, allegorical tone. The work serves as a record of the 1895 exhibition, which celebrated the technical and artistic progress of lithography since Alois Senefelder first developed the process in 1796. By employing a classical vocabulary, the artist elevates the medium of the poster, suggesting that lithography is a craft worthy of fine art status. The print captures the intersection of commercial graphic design and the aesthetic sensibilities of the French Symbolist school.