Oleographs, also called chromolithographs, are multi-colour art prints, stemming from the process of lithography. The technique relied on using several wood blocks or stones with colours for printing, while hand-colouring remained an important aspect as well.Poor preservation and cheaper printing alternatives have made oleographs hard to find. Today, they are mainly used as fine art.
In India, oleographs were made mainstream by the artist Raja Ravi Varma.Through affordable art prints, or oleographs, he democratized access to religious imagery across class and caste.His thought was that his paintings should not
only be in the possession of Royal families alone. Many of these oleographs wereprinted at his own printing press, the Ravi Varma Press. The oleographs printed here were very popular and continued to be printed in thousands for many years,
even after the death of Raja Ravi Varma in 1906.
Today, oleographs in good condition are extremely hard to find, and hence, are prized collectibles. Only a portion of his originals got printed in oleograph forms Raja Ravi Varma is still living with us in originals and as oleographs.
