Gezicht op het Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique c. 1789

This print, made by L. Roger around the late 18th or early 19th century, depicts the Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique in Paris. The printmaking process involves a series of skilled techniques, combining artistry and craft. The print begins as an engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, likely copper. Ink is then applied to the plate and carefully wiped, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Then, with considerable pressure, the image is transferred to paper. The addition of watercolor by hand, introduces an element of uniqueness to each print, softening the architectural lines of the theatre. The print also highlights social context: the theatre was a place of amusement for the rising middle classes, and this print would have helped to promote the theatre. Materials, making, and context all contribute to the print's meaning, and the way it challenges the divide between fine art and craft.