Personificatie van Geschiedenis 1797

This engraving, "Personificatie van Geschiedenis," was made by Marino Bovi around the turn of the 19th century, using a technique that was then at the cutting edge. Engraving is an intaglio process, which means that the image is incised into a metal plate—usually copper—and then filled with ink. This is then transferred to paper under great pressure. Look closely, and you’ll notice the extraordinary fineness of the lines, and the precision with which the shading is accomplished. This suggests that Bovi may have used a ruling machine, a mechanical device for creating parallel lines. This speaks to the era's fascination with technology. It is also important to note that printmaking was a highly collaborative process at this time, involving the labor of skilled artisans. They possessed specialized knowledge, often unacknowledged. So, while Bovi’s name is on the print, its creation speaks to a larger social network of making. Ultimately, this image reminds us that art is always the product of both individual talent and collective effort.