Arngrimur Jonsson & co. 1779 - 1781

J.F. Clemens made this print of Arngrimur Jonsson sometime before 1831. It is an engraving, made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then using a press to transfer the ink onto paper. The image is a memorial to the Icelandic scholar Arngrimur Jonsson. This type of printmaking was ideally suited to the creation of widely distributed images. It played an important role in circulating information and ideas. The linear precision of the engraving technique lends itself well to architectural representation. The monument is presented as a stoic marker in the landscape, a testament to Jonsson’s enduring legacy. Engravings like this one were part of a much larger print industry. It was one that relied on skilled artisans to translate designs into reproducible images. The print’s effectiveness lies in its ability to convey a sense of permanence and authority through the careful manipulation of line and form. It underscores the vital connection between the means of production, cultural memory, and the democratization of knowledge.