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Chromolithography: The Art of Color
Historical
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Eastman Johnson was hailed for his charming image of the "Barefoot Boy," inspired by on John Greenleaf Whittier's poem. This classic American image was made into a chromolithograph by Louis Prang of Boston. Louis Prang was the most successful American publisher of chromolithographs and he said that the print of the Barefoot Boy was his most successful print ever. This success spurred Prang to go back to Johnson for another of his excellent images, this print showing young Abraham Lincoln reading by the light of a fire in his log cabin home. This is one of Prang's larger and most expensive images, selling for $12 a copy (in contrast to the Barefoot Boy's $5). According to Prang's promotional text, "This great national picture,…is full of artistic excellencies, apart from its associations…What better picture to have constantly before the eyes of the rising generation? It teaches that in America there is no social eminence impossible to the lowest youth, who by perseverance, study, and honesty of life and purpose, shall seek to reach the ranks of the rulers of the people." This print still evokes that American ideal, which in addition to the quality and attractiveness of this superb chromolithograph, makes this a most desirable American print. $2,800
[Midnight Race on the Mississippi.] Cincinnati or perhaps Covington, Kentucky: Donaldson Art Sign Company, circa. 1887. Chromolithograph. 20 x 29 1/2. A few chips and short tears around margins, else very good.
Many prints and drawings of the famous race between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee were made during the nineteenth century. Steamboats had been the major means of transportation in the decades before and after the Civil War, but with the coming of railroads in the 1870s, that traffic was considerably diminished. The great palaces filled with people and stacked with cargo were replaced by barges. This print was made at the end of that era., with the romance of the vanishing past is well captured by this print with a full moon, bright cinders flowing from the smoke stacks, people on deck watching the race, and the calm waters being cut by the vibrant boats.
The Donaldson name appears in a variety of forms in records of Cincinnati, Ohio, printers: Donaldson & Elmes (1863), William M. Donaldson (1872), Donaldson, Mach & Co. (1873), Donaldson Lithographing Company (1880) and William M. Donaldson & Co. (1883). The name Donaldson Art Sign Company appears with the date 1887 and the place Covington on Donaldson's version of Frank Tuchfarber's chromolithograph after William Harnett's "The Old Violin." The use of the word "Art" in the name of the company was a popular designation at the time. Peter Marzio notes that Kurz & Allison in Chicago called themselves "Art Publishers" (p. 179) while the term was used by firms with a tendency to produce a German variety of chromolithograph called an oleograph. These chromos were characterized by printing in dark thick inks that were heavily coated with varnish. This style of print was made in both Germany and the United States, no doubt appealing to immigrants from Germany and a middle class that wanted to enjoy art. The appeal was strong for the people who related to the great rivers such as the Mississippi and the Ohio, and that emotion continues to the present. $2,400
“Landing of Columbus.” Chicago: Kurz & Allison, ca. 1890. Chromolithograph. 17 1/2 x 25. Very good condition.
A colorful image by Kurz & Allison, showing the scene of Columbus' landing in America. Typically of the prints by this firm, the event is overstated with Victorian melodrama. The vivid colors show Columbus standing in resplendent dress at the shore with his ship in the background. As much a reflection of the taste of the print buying public as of the events portrayed in them, this print is a wonderful document of Victorian times. $500
Go to page with more historic chromolithographs by Kurz & Allison.
Pairs of popular prints on the theme of a soldier heading off to war and then returning appeared in this country as early as the Mexican-American War. This pair appeared at the end of the Philippine-American War. $350
There are quite a number of Civil War chromolithographs listed in our Civil War pages
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