The Submission of the Ili 1769

This print, "The Submission of the Ili," was made by Benoit Louis Prevost in the late eighteenth century using an engraving process. Engraving involves cutting lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the incredibly fine network of lines that create the image. Each one had to be manually incised into the metal. Consider the labor involved in producing such a detailed scene, with its hundreds of figures and intricate landscapes. Prevost used a burin, a special tool, to carefully remove slivers of metal. The depth and density of these lines determine the tonal range of the print, creating shadows and highlights. This process, though laborious, allowed for the production of multiple copies, making the image accessible to a wider audience. Prints like this served as a means of disseminating information and visual culture in an era before photography, connecting aesthetics and socio-politics. Appreciating the craft of engraving helps us understand the social context of the artwork.