Title Page 

Etienne Delaune made this title page in 1573 using engraving. This is an intaglio printmaking technique, where the design is incised into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin. The fine lines you see are the result of this careful cutting. The crispness of the lines is really striking. They are a testament to Delaune's skill and the precision afforded by the burin. Once the design is complete, ink is applied to the plate, and then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The printmaker then presses paper against the plate with considerable force, transferring the ink to the paper. Prints like this were relatively easy to produce, and could be widely distributed. This allowed for the swift circulation of imagery and ideas. The very act of making prints democraticizes art. It takes it from the unique object, made for a wealthy patron, and puts it in the hands of a much broader public. This is what makes printmaking such a potent force in the history of art.