Title-Page to a Series of Ten Landscapes 1763

Jean Jacques de Boissieu created this title page to a series of ten landscapes using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production in the 18th century. The etched lines create a scene filled with remarkable detail. The material, paper, is humble, yet through the artistry of etching, it presents us with a rich, imagined world. The process begins with a metal plate, coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then draws through this coating, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the drawn lines are "bitten" into the surface. Ink is applied, filling these etched lines, and then the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This technique allowed for the relatively quick production of multiple copies, making art more accessible. Look closely and you will notice the marks of labor, the intricate network of lines, capturing the essence of the landscape. Through such processes, the realms of craft and fine art intertwine, inviting us to reconsider traditional hierarchies of artistic value.