Ornament met engelen en putti 1864

This ornament featuring angels and putti was made by Firmin Gillot. It demonstrates a printing technique he pioneered, called gillotage, a process which combined photography and etching to reproduce images quickly and in large quantities. Gillotage allowed for the mass production of detailed illustrations, such as this one, which shows a complex array of figures and ornamental motifs. Note the texture of the paper and the fineness of the etched lines. Gillot’s technique allowed for a high level of detail and tonal variation, mimicking the look of a hand-drawn illustration. The ability to reproduce images efficiently had significant implications for the printing industry. This process democratized image-making, making art and design accessible to a wider audience, tying into the rise of mass media and consumer culture. Gillot's gillotage stands as a testament to the merging of art, technology, and industry.