Oleography

Oleography, also known as chromolithography or oil print, is a 19th-century printmaking technique developed to reproduce oil paintings with remarkable accuracy and texture. The term derives from the Greek words “elaion” (oil) and “graphein” (to write or draw), reflecting its fundamental principle — the replication of oil-based artworks through a mechanical printing process that mimics the depth, richness, and colour of hand-painted canvases.
This process was particularly significant in an era before photography and digital reproduction, allowing for the mass dissemination of fine art to a broader audience. Oleographs became especially popular in Europe and colonial India for their aesthetic appeal and affordability.

Historical Background

Oleography evolved during the mid-19th century, a period marked by innovations in printing technology. It is closely associated with the development of chromolithography, which involved printing images using multiple colour stones or plates.
The method was perfected in Germany and France around the 1860s, and soon spread to Britain and India. The Indian printing firm Raja Ravi Varma Press, established in 1894 in Lonavala (later moved to Malavli near Pune), played a pivotal role in popularising oleography across India.
Ravi Varma’s oleographs depicted mythological, historical, and cultural themes, making art accessible to the common people and revolutionising visual culture in India.

The Technique of Oleography

Oleography is a multi-layered colour printing process designed to imitate the look and feel of oil paintings. The technique involves the following key steps:

1. Preparation of the Original Artwork:
   • A high-quality oil painting is selected for reproduction.
   • The artwork is studied to determine its tonal range and colour composition.
2. Stone or Plate Engraving:
   • Each colour used in the image is transferred onto a separate lithographic stone or metal plate.
   • Traditionally, 15–20 plates could be used for a single image to achieve tonal accuracy.
3. Colour Application:
   • Oil-based inks are applied to the engraved stones or plates.
   • The image is printed layer by layer, with precise registration to ensure perfect alignment of colours.
4. Texture and Finish:
   • After printing, artisans often hand-finished the images by adding brushstrokes, varnish, or texture to simulate the surface of an original oil painting.
   • This gave the oleograph its characteristic glossy and embossed appearance.
5. Mounting and Framing:
   • Printed sheets were mounted on canvas, stretched over wooden frames, and sometimes varnished for durability.

Features of Oleographs

• Oil-like Surface Texture: Achieved through layered printing and varnishing.
• Vivid Colours: Multiple ink layers created rich, luminous tones similar to hand-painted oils.
• Durability: Printed on thick paper or canvas, designed for long-term preservation.
• Affordability: Enabled mass production of artworks that could be owned by the middle class.
• Artistic Fidelity: Faithfully reproduced the style and brushwork of the original artist.

Oleography in India

India became one of the largest markets for oleographic art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The technique found immense popularity through Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906), a celebrated Indian painter who sought to democratise art by making it accessible to all social classes.

• In 1894, Ravi Varma and his brother Raja Raja Varma established the Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press at Lonavala.
• The press produced affordable prints of Indian mythological figures, gods, and goddesses, such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Krishna, and Rama.
• These oleographs were widely circulated across India, adorning temples, homes, and shops.

The success of Ravi Varma’s oleographs led to the rise of similar presses in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras, turning oleography into both an artistic and commercial phenomenon.

Cultural Significance

1. Democratisation of Art:
   • Oleography transformed art from an elite possession into a medium accessible to the masses.
   • Ordinary people could now own and display reproductions of iconic artworks and religious imagery.
2. Religious and National Identity:
   • In India, oleographs played a vital role in shaping the visual vocabulary of Hinduism by standardising the depiction of deities.
   • They also contributed to nationalist sentiment, as Ravi Varma’s mythological heroes symbolised cultural pride and identity.
3. Commercial Art and Popular Culture:
   • The technique bridged fine art and mass communication, influencing early advertising, calendar art, and poster design.
4. Artistic Legacy:
   • Many modern Indian artists draw inspiration from oleographic aesthetics, blending traditional iconography with contemporary styles.

Global Context

In Europe and America, oleographs were used to reproduce classical paintings and landscapes, catering to the middle-class demand for decorative art. Publishers produced prints of works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Turner, and Constable, allowing widespread dissemination of fine art.
The technique was also employed to reproduce portraits, biblical scenes, and romantic subjects, often hand-finished to enhance realism.
By the early 20th century, however, the popularity of oleography declined with the advent of photomechanical reproduction, offset printing, and colour photography, which offered cheaper and faster alternatives.

Advantages of Oleography

• Faithful reproduction of original artwork with remarkable detail and texture.
• Greater durability than ordinary lithographs.
• Ability to produce multiple copies without losing colour quality.
• Significant contribution to the spread of art education and appreciation.

Limitations

• The process was labour-intensive and time-consuming, requiring skilled artisans.
• High production costs limited its commercial viability in later years.
• Technological advances in photography and printing eventually rendered the method obsolete.
• Many oleographs were mass-produced, leading to a decline in perceived artistic value.

Modern Relevance and Legacy

Though industrial production of oleographs has diminished, the art form continues to hold cultural, historical, and collector’s value. Antique oleographs, particularly those from Ravi Varma’s press, are now considered heritage artefacts and command high prices in art auctions.
Contemporary artists and printmakers sometimes employ oleographic techniques to recreate vintage aesthetics or to explore themes of mass reproduction and cultural identity. Museums and art archives preserve oleographs as part of the evolution of printmaking and visual communication.