Muurdecoratie met twee beelden 1661

Jean Lepautre produced this print of a wall decoration with two statues. The method of production has everything to do with its effect. As an etching, this artwork would have begun with a metal plate, likely copper. Using a sharp needle, Lepautre would have drawn his design, cutting through a wax coating to expose the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the lines, creating grooves. The deeper the bite, the more ink the line would hold. The plate would have been inked, wiped clean, and then pressed onto paper. The pressure of the printing would have transferred the ink from the etched lines onto the page. This process enabled Lepautre to produce multiple identical images, each with remarkable precision and detail, allowing the dissemination of architectural and design ideas. The print embodies both artistic skill and technical expertise, blurring the lines between art and industry, craft and commerce.