The Exhibition at the Salon du Louvre in 1787 1787

Pietro Antonio Martini made this etching, "The Exhibition at the Salon du Louvre in 1787," which captures a bustling scene of the Parisian art world. Etching is a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using acid. The plate is covered with a waxy ground resistant to acid. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The acid creates tiny grooves which are then filled with ink, and the plate is pressed onto paper. Martini's skill is evident in the intricate details of the figures, the textures of their clothing, and the architectural setting. Consider this print not just as an image, but as the result of skilled labor and material knowledge, bringing us closer to the realities of art production in 18th-century Paris.