Bacchanaal 1759

Jean Daullé made this print, called Bacchanaal, using engraving techniques. The controlled lines were manually carved into a metal plate, likely copper, with a tool called a burin. The material qualities here are all about light and shadow. The careful cross-hatching that Daullé uses creates subtle gradations of tone. This process also imbues the image with a sense of labor. Each line is a deliberate mark, a testament to the engraver’s skill and patience. Prints like these were crucial for disseminating imagery in an era before photography. This one reproduces a painting by François Boucher, a leading artist in the court of Louis XV. Daullé’s print thus played a key role in popularizing the rococo style, making it available to a wider audience. Ultimately, appreciating prints like Bacchanaal requires us to consider the labor involved in their production and their role in the broader economy of images. It bridges the gap between fine art and reproductive craft.