Artwork
Imprimerie en Taille Douce: pl. I
Imprimerie en Taille Douce: pl. I 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. Imprimerie en Taille Douce: pl.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in plate: Ms.; lower center in plate: Imprimerie en Taille Douce.; lower left in plate: 23; upper right in plate: Pl. I.
About this work
Overview
The work serves as the first plate in a series documenting the technical processes of intaglio printing, specifically soft-ground etching.
Imprimerie en Taille Douce: pl. I is an engraving on laid paper created in 1775 by an anonymous French artist active in the late 18th century. The work serves as the first plate in a series documenting the technical processes of intaglio printing, specifically soft-ground etching.
The composition depicts a workshop interior where a printmaker operates a rolling press, pulling a sheet of paper through the mechanism to transfer an image from an inked plate. Executed with the precision characteristic of 18th-century technical illustration, the image utilizes fine hatching and cross-hatching to render the textures of the machinery, the paper, and the surrounding environment. The scene captures the mechanical action of the press, emphasizing the relationship between the artisan and the equipment.
Produced during the Enlightenment era, this print contributes to the period's broader scientific and industrial documentation efforts, aiming to preserve and disseminate knowledge of artisanal trades. It stands as a historical record of the tools and methods used in French printmaking prior to the industrial revolution, reflecting the era's interest in categorizing and understanding manual labor.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the practical steps of transferring ink onto paper, serving as a visual guide within a contemporary manual on printing techniques. By focusing on the press and its operator, the engraving emphasizes the craftsmanship and labor involved in producing printed material during the late 1700s.
Technique & Style
Created through cross‑hatching, the artist builds tonal variation by overlapping thin and thick lines, achieving subtle shadows and texture. The use of laid paper provides a faint ribbed pattern that interacts with the engraved marks, enhancing the sense of depth and the tactile quality of the press’s components.
History & Provenance
The engraving was produced as part of a printed treatise on printing methods published in the final decades of the eighteenth century. While its original publisher remains unidentified, the image now resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is displayed among other historic printmaking examples.
Artist & collection
Artist
An anonymous French hand of the late 18th century made portrait paintings and etched prints.
