| Lithographs are one of the most intricate pieces of art | | | | be completed using just the flat surface of the stone |
| that can be found, requiring much attention to detail and | | | | alone. This was the first recorded time that |
| a lot of time in order to create a piece that is what the | | | | planographic printing occurred. In 1818 Senefelder |
| artist had envisioned. Lithography itself is a relatively | | | | secured the patent rights for his technique; although he |
| new art form, having been invented at the very end of | | | | wanted to call it stone printing the French term |
| the 18th century. Let's take a quick look at how this | | | | lithograph became the more popular label. |
| popular art form came about. | | | | Senefelder gradually worked his printing process into |
| Alois Senefelder | | | | the area of art, as he realized that a picture could be |
| Alois Senefelder was an Austrian actor and playwright, | | | | achieved without the need of special tools. By 1837, |
| born in 1771. Like many playwrights, Senefelder often | | | | lithography had developed to the point that full colour |
| encountered trouble when it came to actually making | | | | lithographs were being produced. |
| money off of his work, and in 1796 he found himself | | | | Further developments |
| truly in trouble. With no one willing to publish his play and | | | | As with any art medium, lithography continued to |
| deep in debt, Senefelder for some reason decided to | | | | develop after the passing of its originator (Senefelder |
| try is own hand at printing (he wished to print up his | | | | died in 1834). The art from became very popular in |
| most recent play, but could not go through an | | | | the1870s, when a number of artists, particularly those |
| established printer due to his debts). | | | | from France, began producing their work using the |
| Senefelder used an acid resistant ink to etch his play | | | | lithograph technique. Today, experimentation in the art |
| on fine grained limestone, and thus the first lithograph | | | | continues using methods which include nanoimporint, |
| was created. From there, Senefelder proceeded to | | | | X-rays, and ultraviolet lighting. |
| experiment further and found that the process could | | | | |