Loading Spinner

19th Century European Prints

19th Century Europe was marked by rapid development of printmaking technology. Lithography was quickly assimilated for both commercial and artistic purposes, as illustrations could be quickly reproduced for journals and newspapers. The technology also promoted an increase in advertising, as brilliantly colored posters could be easily mass-produced.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is one artist that exploited this technology for commercial means, creating advertisements on commission as well as using printmaking for personal artistic exploration. A highly detailed form of woodcut, often referred to as a wood engraving, was popular among early 19th century printmakers for their use in book illustration.

Intaglio methods such as etching became popular in the mid-19th century when Barbizon school artists revived the practice for the purpose of creating landscapes. In the 1860s, artists such as Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas experimented with the technique, further feeding the market for fine illustrations.

As technique and technology improved, artists increasingly used printmaking to respond to the political, cultural, and industrial changes of the age, as art was becoming a voice for all.


Quick Facts

  • In the 19th century, printmaking and other artistic methods of the era show artists throwing off the yoke of church and state to express their reaction to the times
  • A clear example of this prevailing attitude in art is Francisco Goya’s etching series, "Los Caprichos," which in subject condemns the actions of the church and government, is also an inventive use of the etching technique
  • European printmaking aesthetic was strongly influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints after trade opened between Asia and Europe in the mid 19th century. Impressionist artists were particularly influenced by the clean composition and subject matter, incorporating these ideas into their own prints and paintings

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

bp parity badge
S. SANGSTER (*1804) after UNWIN (18th), Feast of Our Lady of Flowers, 1834, Steel engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
S. SANGSTER (*1804) after UNWIN (18th), Feast of Our Lady of Flowers, 1834, Steel engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
After VOSS (19th), Diploma in arts and crafts, 1889, Chromolithograph
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
After VOSS (19th), Diploma in arts and crafts, 1889, Chromolithograph
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Weston (Missouri), Steel engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Weston (Missouri), Steel engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
L. RICHTER (1803-1884), Mother spinning, 1853, Wood engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
L. RICHTER (1803-1884), Mother spinning, 1853, Wood engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €60- €100
€401 Bid
bp parity badge
J. NOEL (1810-1881), Reykjavik harbour, 1868, Woodcut
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
J. NOEL (1810-1881), Reykjavik harbour, 1868, Woodcut
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Saint Genoveva, around 1850, Lithography
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Saint Genoveva, around 1850, Lithography
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Portrait of an officer, Lithography
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Portrait of an officer, Lithography
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
F. DELAMARCHE (19th), Map of Asia Minor, Anatolia, 1833, Copper engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
F. DELAMARCHE (19th), Map of Asia Minor, Anatolia, 1833, Copper engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €120- €200
€801 Bid
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Portrait of Eduard Mörike, Wood engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Portrait of Eduard Mörike, Wood engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €60- €100
€401 Bid
bp parity badge
FORSELL (19th), Joh. Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827), 1814, Copper engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
FORSELL (19th), Joh. Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827), 1814, Copper engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€301 Bid
bp parity badge
After VEITH (*1799), Allegory of the Rhine, 1829, Lithography with pen
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
After VEITH (*1799), Allegory of the Rhine, 1829, Lithography with pen
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €75- €125
€500 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Satire with a gentleman in an equestrian portrait, Lithography with pen
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Satire with a gentleman in an equestrian portrait, Lithography with pen
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €60- €100
€400 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Bull hunt in Rom, Steel engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Bull hunt in Rom, Steel engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Newspaper post office in Leipzig, Wood engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Newspaper post office in Leipzig, Wood engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
N. CHARLET (1792-1845), Le gamin - National pride in its infancy, Lithography
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
N. CHARLET (1792-1845), Le gamin - National pride in its infancy, Lithography
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €120- €200
€800 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Szenen aus Evelina v. F. Burney, Etching
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Szenen aus Evelina v. F. Burney, Etching
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), St. Genevieve Library, Paris, 1851, Lithography
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), St. Genevieve Library, Paris, 1851, Lithography
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Admission of novices, Etching
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Admission of novices, Etching
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
Unknown (19th), Novices before the bishop, Etching
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Unknown (19th), Novices before the bishop, Etching
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
After WAGRET (*1858), Grundriss Palais de Justice d'Alger, Steel engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
After WAGRET (*1858), Grundriss Palais de Justice d'Alger, Steel engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
F. WERNER (1768-1823), War song,Typography, Lithography
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
F. WERNER (1768-1823), War song,Typography, Lithography
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
After ZIERMANN (*1850), Art of wood engraving, girls, 1880, Woodcut
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
After ZIERMANN (*1850), Art of wood engraving, girls, 1880, Woodcut
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
F. ZVERINA (1835-1908), Alpine hut, high mountains Herzegovina, 1874, Wood engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
F. ZVERINA (1835-1908), Alpine hut, high mountains Herzegovina, 1874, Wood engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids
bp parity badge
F. ZVERINA (1835-1908), Evangelists' Bridge Herzegovina, 1875, Wood engraving
Jun 15, 2:00 PM CEST
F. ZVERINA (1835-1908), Evangelists' Bridge Herzegovina, 1875, Wood engraving
by Fichter Kunsthandel
Est: €45- €75
€300 Bids

Sellers Who Sell 19th Century European Prints


Fichter Kunsthandel

Fichter Kunsthandel