View of a Wing of the Palace of Fontaineblue, Comprising the Fountain Court n.d.

Jacques Rigaud made this print of the Palace of Fontainebleau using etching and engraving. It's not just a picture, but a record of skilled labor. Look closely and you'll see how Rigaud meticulously scratched lines into a metal plate to create this incredibly detailed image. The varying depths and densities produce a range of tones, from the solid blacks of the trees to the soft grays of the architecture. The printmaking processes Rigaud employed were central to the distribution of images and ideas at the time. This wasn't just art for art's sake; it was a way to communicate power, wealth, and social status in 18th-century France. So, next time you see a print, remember that it's not just a picture. It's the result of skilled hands, industrial processes, and a complex web of social and economic factors. By understanding the making, we can understand the meaning.