Le Colin-Maillard 1745 - 1806

This print, Le Colin-Maillard, or Blind Man’s Bluff, was made by Jacques Firmin Beauvarlet sometime in the late 18th century. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using a tool called a burin. Consider the skill involved in this meticulous, labor-intensive process. The engraver would have needed to be highly trained, understanding how to translate the original design into a network of lines and marks. The varying depths and thicknesses of these lines create tonal variations, giving the print its sense of depth and texture. Look closely, and you'll notice the engraver's hand in the delicate rendering of fabrics, foliage, and the expressions on the figures' faces. Prints like this were often made for a growing consumer market, and would have been relatively affordable compared to paintings. Yet, the skill and artistry required to produce them shouldn't be underestimated. This print invites us to consider the labor and expertise involved in creating images for mass consumption.