author

Joseph Martin Kronheim

1810–1896

A skilled 19th-century printmaker, he helped shape Victorian color printing through detailed wood engraving and lithography. His work bridged craftsmanship and innovation, and his name became closely tied to some of the era’s most admired illustrated books and prints.

1 Audiobook

My First Picture Book

My First Picture Book

by Joseph Martin Kronheim

About the author

Born in Germany in 1810, Joseph Martin Kronheim built his career in Britain as a lithographer and wood engraver. He is best known for founding Kronheim & Co. and for his connection with the development of color printing in the Victorian period.

Kronheim worked with George Baxter, one of the key figures in early commercial color printing, and later established his own reputation through richly detailed illustrated work. His printing and engraving were used in books, decorative pieces, and religious imagery, showing the mix of technical precision and visual appeal that made 19th-century print culture so influential.

He died in 1896, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both the artistry and the industrial ambition of his time. Today he is remembered as part of the story of how illustrated printing became more vivid, accessible, and widely admired.