"Denis, School Master" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

J. J. Grandville created this print, "Denis, School Master," in the mid-19th century, as part of an editioned set of prints. Its medium is humble: ink on paper, a world away from marble sculpture or oil painting. The character of this work resides in the labor-intensive technique of engraving, which involves painstakingly incising an image onto a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. The quality of the work is directly correlated to the number of impressions that can be pulled from the plate, before it degrades too much. It’s a testament to the artist’s skill that such detail and nuance are achieved. Looking at "Denis, School Master," consider the complex social context of its production. In an increasingly industrialized world, printmaking offered a way to disseminate images widely, democratizing art by making it accessible to a broader audience. The image is reproducible; this fact is just as important as its apparent subject. So, while seemingly a modest work, this print speaks volumes about art, labor, and the changing landscape of 19th-century society.