C. J. Brodtmann (b. 1787), Incunable of Lithography, Large folio (44cm), Fox & Wolf - 1816

C. J. Brodtmann, born 1787, was a pioneering Swiss artist known for his work in lithography, an early and important printmaking technique developed in the late 18th century. This large folio from 1816 featuring his illustrations of a Fox and a Wolf exemplifies the precision and detail achievable through lithography. Lithography allowed artists to reproduce images with subtle gradations and fine lines that were difficult with earlier methods like engraving. Such works contributed to the expansion of printed natural history and animal illustration by making detailed images more widely accessible. Brodtmann's portrayals are valued for their combination of scientific accuracy and artistic skill, reflecting a period when natural history illustration played a crucial role in education and documentation before modern photography. This folio demonstrates early 19th-century interest in wildlife art and printmaking innovation.