Pochoir or Lithograph? Understanding the True Technique Behind Grasset’s La Plante

In the world of antique print collecting, the difference between pochoir and color lithography is more than a technicality — it defines how we interpret, date, and value a work. For Eugène Grasset’s La Plante et ses Applications Ornementales (1896), this distinction is especially critical.

Many sellers and even some collectors describe the prints from La Plante as pochoir — a term that conjures up vivid, hand-applied color and Art Deco elegance. But this is incorrect.

The original prints from La Plante are color lithographs, not pochoirs.

What Is Pochoir?

Pochoir (French for “stencil”) is a labor-intensive technique in which colors are applied by hand using metal or celluloid stencils, often in layers. It was especially popular in high-end fashion and design publications between 1910 and 1930 — think L’Illustration des Modes or the works of Barbier, Marty, or Séguy.

• Highly saturated, flat fields of color
• No visible halftone patterns
• Applied with gouache or watercolor
• Soft, feathered or slightly uneven edges
• Color appears to “sit on top” of the paper

What Is Color Lithography?

Color lithography uses a series of carefully registered plates — one for each color — to mechanically produce color images. It was the dominant method for posters, books, and decorative arts in the late 19th century.

• Printed via stone or zinc plates using chemical transfer
• May show dot patterns or grain textures
• Sharp registration and smooth layering
• Image is embedded in the paper, not raised

Visual Clues from La Plante

Let’s examine two examples from La Plante, courtesy of our collection at Prantique.com:

• Plate 30 – Jonquil
• Plate 19 – Geranium

At first glance, the flat tones and sharp outlines may resemble pochoir. But under closer inspection — even at moderate magnification — you’ll notice the absence of brush marks, the uniform lithographic texture, and precise mechanical layering.

Why the Confusion?

• Grasset’s work predates the pochoir era by 15–20 years.
• The clean designs and vibrant litho process mimic hand coloring.
• Some sellers misuse “pochoir” to describe any old colorful print.

Why This Matters

Correct attribution isn’t pedantic — it’s about respecting technique and history. *La Plante* was printed by Charles Gillot, a pioneer of chromolithography in Paris. These plates are not hand-colored — they are precision lithographs of the Art Nouveau era.

Collect With Confidence

At Prantique, every work is vetted. Our plates from La Plante are guaranteed original 1896 color lithographs — not modern reprints, not pochoirs.

When you buy from us, you’re not just acquiring an image — you’re acquiring history, technique, and truth.

Explore Our Collection

• Water-Lily →
• Geranium →
• Snowdrop →