Unknown Maker, French

Before the introduction of vibrant distemper paints, papers were printed in a limited color palette using a medium that was more like ink than paint. This early example reveals how manufactures layered primary colors to create more dynamic images. It was made before manufactures brushed wallpapers with a single color of paint to unify the composition and strengthen the paper before designs were printed. The lack of ground color allows us to see discoloration where the adhesive that once held it to the wall bled through.