Gezicht op Sint-Helena 1774 - 1819

Jean Jérôme Baugean made this print of Saint Helena using etching and engraving, techniques that rely on the controlled erosion of a metal plate. Baugean created this image by first coating a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called ground. Using a sharp needle, he scratched away the ground, exposing the metal underneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating recessed areas. Ink was applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface was wiped clean. Finally, the plate was pressed against paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. Engraving, with its precise lines, would have been used for finer details, requiring intense focus and physical labor. The printmaking process allowed the image to be reproduced multiple times, essential for disseminating information. Such prints served both aesthetic and practical purposes, documenting the world for a European audience, and hinting at the colonial dynamics at play during this era.