Figuren voor een altaar waaraan een godin verschijnt 1749 - 1817

This print, “Figuren voor een altaar waaraan een godin verschijnt,” was made by François Denis Née in the late 18th century using an engraving technique. This process involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Notice the extraordinary fineness of the lines, which create a range of subtle tones and textures. The goddess and cherubs seem to emerge from clouds created through cross-hatching. The burin has been used here with tremendous skill, indicating years of training and practice. Engraving was an established part of the print industry at this time, making images widely available to a growing consumer class. Prints like this one demonstrate the artistry inherent in even the most commercial of processes. By focusing on the material and the making, we can appreciate the skill involved in producing such a detailed image, and consider its wider social and economic context.