Eusebio Planas, The Obscured Artist Who Started Pornography In Spain

Eusebio Planas y Franquesa (1833-1897) was a prolific Spanish lithographer about whom little is known now. Being a leading illustrator of novels in the period between 1850 and 1897, Planas provided images to texts like The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, which were popular back then and became classics later. He studied lithography techniques in Paris and managed to transfer to Spain the exquisite local approach as well as French enthusiasm for producing anti-clerical and erotic books. 

Fig. 1. Eusebi Planas by Escaler, 1891 (Wikipedia.org)

Fig. 2. Painting by Planas (deblog-notes.com)

Fig. 3. Historia de una mujer, 1880 (librorum.piscolabis.cat)

Fig. 4. deblog-notes.com

To Paris And Back

Eusebio Planas was born in Barcelona in the family of a lawyer who wanted the son to follow in his footsteps. Planas was reluctant to make a career in jurisprudence, so eventually, his parents had to send him to the Escuela de la Lonja (The School of Arts and Crafts of Barcelona). After studying there for some time, Planas apprenticed in the lithographer's workshop. In 1849, when Planas was barely sixteen years old, his father sent him to Parisian lithographer Emile Lassalle to learn the latest trends in lithography. Lassalle was an honored artist who would become a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1861. With his protection, Planas began working for the publisher Goupil. His first remarkable lithograph was a portrait of Eugenia de Montijo, the wife of Napoleon III, on horseback dressed as an Andalusian. During his time in Paris, Planas also manifested himself as a caricaturist. In 1854, the artist returned to Barcelona because of the cholera epidemic outbreak in Paris.

Fig. 5. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 6. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 7. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 8. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 9. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 10. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 11. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 12. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 13. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 14. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Fig. 15. Academias de Mujer (palauantiguitats.com)

Mixing Business With Pleasure

Settling back in Barcelona, Planas was disappointed by the local level of printing, as Raimon Casellas, the art historian and collector, mentioned. "[He found out that] neither in the quality nor in the graining and preparation of the stones had the lithograph printers of Barcelona made much progress. The excesses of acid that were used to obtain the reproduction and the enormous print run to which the stones were forced, resulted in a hard and coarse impression, without transitions, which was the least suitable for the smooth gradations and the fine modeling, and the lightness of line that were the hallmarks of Planas." Planas' Parisian studies made him one of the most outstanding lithographers of Spain whose skill couldn't be surpassed. At the same time, the artist, favoring dandy looks, was a partygoer and gambler and led quite a debauched life. 

Fig. 16. Historia de la prostitucion (deblog-notes.com)

Fig. 17. deblog-notes.com

In the extended Premium edition more on Planas'erotic work, his stay and study in Paris, what made him one of the most outstanding lithographers of Spain, the hallmarks of his work, his financial success and great influence on the development of pornography in Spain, and 20 additional images with the more intimate scenes.

Click HERE for an article on the erotic prints allegedly made by the pupil of Casanova

Sources: Wikipedia.org; Dolores Thion Soriano-Mollá. Eusebio Planas, hacia la supremacía de la imagen; librorummaioris.piscolabis.cat; deblog-notes.com