Design for a Triumphal Bridge 1800 - 1900

Joseph Lemercier made this delicate design for a triumphal bridge sometime in the 19th century. It’s rendered with etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to bite lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Lemercier was one of many artists who found employment in the creation of architectural prints. The design is characterized by precisely hatched lines that evoke the play of light on stone. Its cultural significance lies in how it celebrates engineering as a source of national pride. These kinds of prints were produced in multiples, often by skilled artisans working in workshops. Consider the labor involved in the production process. Although Lemercier conceived the image, the etching and printing would likely have been collaborative. This reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images have complex social and economic dimensions, tied to wider issues of labor and cultural production.