About this sheet
A charming and highly decorative set of three original mid-19th-century colored lithographs depicting courtship, fashionable society and playful observations on relations between men and women. Published by F. Sala & Co. at Unter den Linden 57 in Berlin, the prints combine elegant period costume with humorous bilingual captions in French and German.
The first scene depicts a fashionable couple sheltering beneath an umbrella during a rain shower while another woman walks ahead. Its captions read “Un moyen d’introduction!” / “Ein Mittel zur Einleitung.” — “A means of introduction!” The umbrella provides the gentleman with the perfect excuse to approach and become acquainted with the woman.
The second, entitled “La Pie aux Bois” / “Das Waldvögelein” — approximately “The Woodland Bird” — shows two elegantly dressed young women walking together in a wooded landscape while a gentleman follows discreetly behind. The scene plays upon flirtation, observation and romantic pursuit in the fashionable culture of the period.
The third shows two women relaxing beside a fireplace while one reads aloud from a newspaper. Its captions read “Nous demandons les Russes et les Anglais!” / “Wir lieben Russen und Engländer!” — “We ask for the Russians and the English!” / “We love Russians and Englishmen!” The caption gives the domestic scene a humorous social and potentially topical political character.
Together the three lithographs form an appealing visual commentary on courtship, fashionable society and relations between the sexes in mid-19th-century Europe. Each image is presented within a large oval composition surrounded by an elegant ornamental border and delicately colored in muted period tones.
Offered together as a coherent set of three original period lithographs.
ARTIST / MAKER: Bülow; published by F. Sala & Co., Unter den Linden 57, Berlin; printed in Berlin
DATE: Circa 1850
ORIGIN: Berlin, Germany
MEDIUM: Original tinted and colored lithographs on paper
STYLE / PERIOD: Romantic / Historicism, mid-19th century
CONDITION: Good antique condition. The sheets show age-related toning and scattered foxing and spotting, particularly throughout the margins. Minor handling and edge wear are present, consistent with their age. The lithographed scenes remain attractive and retain delicate period coloring and fine detail. Please examine the photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the condition description.
FRAMING: Offered unframed. Any framed or interior images shown are for presentation and inspiration only.
AUTHENTICITY: A set of three original antique lithographs dating from circa 1850. These are original period prints and not modern reproductions.
KEYWORDS: Romantic lithographs, courtship scenes, social satire, romantic art, Victorian courtship, fashionable women, fashionable couple, umbrella scene, woodland scene, female friendship, 19th century fashion, Biedermeier, German lithographs, Berlin prints, F. Sala & Co., Unter den Linden, Bülow, circa 1850, French German captions, antique figurative art, set of three prints, original antique lithographs
