Two Loves, one of which holds a crown 1727 - 1760

Pierre Alexandre Aveline made this print, Two Loves, one of which holds a crown, in the mid-18th century. It is made using engraving, a printmaking technique that depends on the precise control of a sharp tool called a burin, to incise lines into a copper plate. The image features two cherubic figures nestled amongst clouds, created through the careful accumulation of fine lines. The quality of these lines gives the image its texture and tonal depth. Aveline would have transferred an image onto a prepared copper plate, and then painstakingly carved along the lines of the drawing. The plate would then be inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This process required intense concentration, and involved highly skilled labor. In the 1700s, prints were increasingly important for disseminating images, fueling the growing market for art and design. Aveline’s expertise as an engraver allowed images to be efficiently reproduced and consumed, contributing to the commercial art world of his time. By focusing on the techniques involved, we recognize the engraver’s essential role in shaping visual culture.