Artwork
Imprimerie en Taille Douce, Devéloppement de la Presse: pl. II
Imprimerie en Taille Douce, Devéloppement de la Presse: pl. II is an ink print by the Romanticist artist French 18th Century. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is an engraved illustration on laid paper that depicts a printing press disassembled into its constituent components.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in plate: D.s.; lower center in plate: Imprimerie en Taille Douce, Devéloppement de la Presse.; lower left in plate: 24; upper right in plate: Pl. II.
About this work
Overview
The work is an engraved illustration on laid paper that depicts a printing press disassembled into its constituent components. Individual elements such as wooden blocks, metal bars, and a sizable frame with handles are shown separately, each marked with letters and numbers that function as a schematic guide to the machine’s construction.
Subject & Meaning
The image serves as a technical diagram of a "taille douce" press, a device used for intaglio printing where images are transferred from etched plates. By breaking the apparatus down into labeled parts, the print conveys a systematic approach to the mechanics of printmaking, emphasizing precision and the interrelation of each component in the process.
Technique & Style
Executed as a fine-line engraving, the artist employed incised lines and cross-hatching to render the metal and wooden textures with clarity. The use of laid paper provides a subtle tonal background that enhances the contrast of the black ink, allowing the intricate details of the press’s structure to stand out sharply.
Context
Created as plate II in a series titled "Imprimerie en Taille Douce, Développement de la Presse," the print belongs to a broader instructional or documentary project on printing technology. While specific dates and ownership history are not recorded, the work reflects 19th‑century interest in cataloguing industrial processes for both educational and professional audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
An anonymous French hand of the late 18th century made portrait paintings and etched prints.
