Lithography

In 1796 Aloys Senefelder (1771-1834) invented an entirely new way of printing; lithography.

This method involves the use of limestone, on which an image is drawn with oily chalk. This is etched into the stone with sulfuric acid. By wetting the stone and inking it with water-repelling ink, only the drawn parts get inked. This is printed with special lithographic press which works as an offset printer.

In 1818 Senefelder published his famous book about the technique, but the technique already circulated from ca. 1802. The most interesting phase is up to 1825-30. After this period it becomes a well-established method which will be used extensively. Because of the possibility of the reproduction of the direct drawing, lithography became very popular with artists.