Stone lithography dominated commercial printing from the mid-1800s through the early 20th century, and the posters and prints it produced have a warmth and depth that later offset printing never quite matched. Artists drew directly onto limestone slabs, which allowed for subtle gradations of color and a richness of line that reflected genuine craft at every stage. Jules Chéret, who helped establish the large-format color lithograph as an art form, is one of the designers whose work this tradition made possible.
