Altaar 1673

Jean Lepautre made this print, "Altaar", in Paris, sometime in the mid-17th century. Look closely, and you can see it’s made of finely engraved lines, pressed onto paper with tremendous force. This wasn't just a means of multiplying images; it was also a way of standardizing design. Lepautre's architectural fantasies, rendered with such crisp detail, offered templates for artisans. The print disseminates the Baroque style, putting it into circulation for others to copy. Consider the labor involved, both Lepautre’s and that of the many craftsmen who likely took inspiration from his prints. This was a world where design and production were intimately linked, where the artistry of the drawing board met the skilled hands of the workshop. Lepautre’s "Altaar" reminds us that even the most elaborate creations have humble origins in the world of making.