"The Keys to Paradise" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

"The Keys to Paradise" by J. J. Grandville, made in the 19th century, is a print, likely an engraving or etching, from "The Complete Works of Béranger." The starkness of the black lines against the white paper creates dramatic contrasts, and the linear precision speaks to the skill required in its making. Consider the cultural context: printmaking at this time was entering a new industrial phase. As a result, images became easily and widely reproducible. The proliferation of printed images in the 19th century democratized art, making it accessible to a broader public beyond the traditional elite. However, this also meant that the labor of the artist was often separated from the final product. While Grandville conceived the image, skilled artisans, who often went uncredited, executed the actual printing. This division of labor, characteristic of industrial capitalism, is embedded in the very fabric of this artwork, reminding us of the complex relationship between art, labor, and consumption.