Insects and Flowers Possibly 1837

This print, titled "Insects and Flowers," was created by an anonymous artist using engraving and hand-coloring. These are processes that are often overlooked because of their reproducibility, but let’s consider them for a moment. The image's lines are etched into a metal plate with painstaking labor. This matrix then becomes the basis for identical impressions on paper. Yet each of those impressions could be considered unique, given the variability of inking and pressure. And then, the final layer of hand-applied color, which would inevitably vary from copy to copy. The print has a scientific function and aesthetic value. It is tied to the growth of natural science and the expansion of the print market. Because of their relative affordability, hand-colored engravings made nature accessible to a broad public, and in a way that was both informative and delightful. This engraving is a reminder that even in works that seem purely representational, material and production are part of the message.