“This lithophane is a fascinating example of 19th-century porcelain art, where an image is revealed only by light passing through its varying thicknesses. It transforms light itself into a medium for art.”
This delicate porcelain plaque reveals its true beauty only when light shines through it. Known as a lithophane, this artwork features an image that appears in shades of grey as varying thicknesses of porcelain transmit different amounts of light. Thinner areas glow brighter, while thicker parts remain darker, creating a striking illusion of depth and detail. This particular example, made in 1837 by Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur, invites a closer look at the subtle transitions from light to shadow. Lithophanes were a popular novelty in the 19th century, often used in lampshades, nightlights, or hung in windows, transforming everyday light into an art display. The technique, invented in France in the 1820s, quickly spread across Europe, with Germany becoming a major center of production.
- Artist
- Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur
- Date
- 1837
- Medium
- Porcelain and wood
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- 22 5/8 x 11 3/4 in. (57.5 x 29.8 cm)
- Collection
- The American Wing
- Culture
- German
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Cecil J. North, 1962
What to Notice
Three details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
Observe how the image is created solely by light passing through the porcelain.
Notice the subtle gradations from bright white to deep grey.
Look for the wooden frame, designed to hold the porcelain and direct light.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Lithophane — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur
Germany's second-oldest porcelain maker, crafting delicate wares from 1746 with their iconic wheel trademark.
Further Works by Porzellan-Manufaktur
Hunter with Hounds
1755 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bouillon bowl with cover
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Girl fleeing from a snake (one of a pair)
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Seated couple
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Plate with Lily of the Valley Tree (Clethra arborea)
1806 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Cup and saucer with birds in micromosaic decoration
1812 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Krater vase with a signed view of Potsdam
1820 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Porzellan-Manufaktur: works from the same years.
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Estuary Farm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1831 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Disaster at Sea
J. M. W. Turner · 1835 · National Gallery
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Hamlet and Horatio in the Graveyard
Eugène Delacroix · 1839 · Department of Paintings of the Louvre
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Virgin Adoring the Host
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1841 · Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Young Woman
Jean-François Millet · 1844 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Wooded Landscape
Gustave Courbet · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain from North Conway
William Hart · 1850
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Fortune Teller (La Bonne Aventure)
Jacques-Louis David · 1824 · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Woman in a Blue Dress
School of William Matthew Prior · 1840 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Mr. James Mackie
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1830 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Designs for a Decorated Dish, or Platter, and a Biscuit Barrel
Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill] · 1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)
John Philip Simpson · 1827 · Art Institute of Chicago