The Discovery of Lithography
Lithography is about the only process of printmaking for which we have a clear documentary history of its discovery and development by its inventor, Alois Senefelder (1771–1834). His discovery of the principle of lithography in Bavaria in 1798 is set out in the treatise Vollständiges Lehrbuch der Steindrückery published in Munich in 1818. The English translation A Complete Course in Lithography was published the following year.
Unsuccessful as a playwright, Senefelder had been researching inexpensive alternatives for copper used then for the purpose of engraving and etching that would then enable him to publish his own work. Experimenting with the fine-grained limestone from the nearby quarries at Solnhofen he discovered that the flat surface of the stone was excellent for writing and for drawing. Originally it is thought that he had intended engraving or etching the surface of the stone and to then print intaglio. By chance however he discovered that providing drawing was made using a greasy substance and the whole stone was then treated with a mild acidic solution, it was then possible to ink the drawing whilst the rest of stone remained clean and ink free.
Partly because of Senefelder's determination to retain full patent rights for the process, the initial establishment of lithography in Europe was somewhat erratic. In 1799 however as a result of a commission to publish the work of the composer Franz Gleissner, Senefelder was forced to share his knowledge with the Offenbach brothers, Friedrich and Philipp André.