Frontispiece from "Virgil" 1770

This frontispiece from "Virgil" was made by Joseph de Longueil, and exemplifies the art of engraving, a printmaking technique where an image is incised onto a metal plate, usually copper. The process begins with the artist using a tool called a burin to cut lines into the plate's surface, with the depth and width of the lines determining the darkness of the printed image. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the incised lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is laid on the plate and run through a press, transferring the ink and creating a reversed image of the original design. What's fascinating is how this medium inherently links art with labor. The meticulous work required to create the plate mirrors the agricultural scenes it depicts, where human and animal labor shape the landscape. This intertwining of artistic process and social context challenges our conventional understanding of art as separate from everyday life. It asks us to consider the value of skilled work, whether in the field or the artist's studio, and how both contribute to our culture.