Le Parterre de l'Orangerie de Chantilly 1680s

Adam Perelle created this print of the Orangerie de Chantilly in the late 17th century. It's made using engraving, a meticulous process. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Consider the relationship between the materials and the image itself. The precision of engraving allows for incredible detail, ideal for capturing the elaborate geometry of the garden. Think of the labor involved: the careful planning of the garden’s design, and the back-breaking work of its creation. The print becomes not just a representation, but also a testament to human effort. Perelle’s skill transforms a common metal into a vehicle for depicting both natural beauty and the social dynamics of leisure. By focusing on the material and the making, we see how printmaking elevates craft to an art form, entwined with labor, landscape, and social class.