Prøvetryk til Chr. Winthers A.B.C. 1863

This is a proof print made by H.P. Hansen for Christian Winther's A.B.C. book. The technique here is key: this is an early printing method. Hansen would have meticulously incised an image into a metal plate, likely copper or steel. The fine lines, created by careful strokes of a burin, hold the ink. The plate is then pressed onto paper, leaving behind a crisp, detailed image. The process isn't just about reproduction, though; it's about labor. Each line represents a deliberate act, a transfer of skill and time from the engraver to the final print. In a world before mechanical reproduction, this was how images were disseminated. And consider the social context. This print was intended for an A.B.C. book. It speaks to the democratizing potential of printmaking, bringing knowledge and art to a wider audience, educating children through images like these. Thinking about this print through the lens of its making allows us to appreciate the artistry involved, and its wider cultural significance.