Artwork
Gravure en Bois, Outils: pl. II
Gravure en Bois, Outils: pl. II is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Antonio Baratta. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in plate: AB.s.; lower center in plate: Gravure en Bois, Outils.; lower left in plate: 172.; upper right in plate: Pl. II.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Baratta’s 1775 print, titled Gravure en Bois, Outils: pl. II, is an engraving executed on laid paper. The work presents a systematic arrangement of wooden‑working implements rendered in monochrome line work.
Each instrument is identified by alphanumeric labels, giving the image the character of an instructional plate for artisans engaged in woodcut or printmaking processes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition functions as a visual catalogue of tools associated with wood engraving. Chisels, brushes, a modest bench and a curved ink‑holding device are depicted with precise detail, emphasizing their utilitarian forms. By labeling each item, Baratta transforms the image into a reference guide, underscoring the technical knowledge required for the craft.
Technique & Style
Baratta employed traditional copper‑plate engraving techniques, incising fine lines into a metal matrix before transferring the image onto laid paper. The stark black‑and‑white palette accentuates the clarity of each tool’s outline, while the uniform hatching conveys texture and depth without resorting to tonal shading. The style is illustrative rather than decorative, prioritizing accuracy.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, the print belongs to a series documenting engraving apparatus, indicated by the “pl. II” designation. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work has circulated among collections of printmaking manuals and is frequently cited in studies of Baratta’s instructional oeuvre.
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