Germanicus ontrolt een papier 1781 - 1809

This print, ‘Germanicus Controled een papier', was made by Louis Michel Halbou around the late 18th century using engraving, a process central to the distribution of images at that time. The incised lines you see weren't drawn directly onto the metal plate; instead, they were achieved with a tool called a burin to carve into a copper plate. Think of it as a very precise kind of controlled violence. Halbou would have needed immense skill to control the depth and direction of each cut, as these determine the darkness and character of the printed line. Engraving was a highly valued skill, demanding years of apprenticeship and practice. The resulting prints played a vital role in disseminating knowledge and artistic ideas, acting as a kind of pre-photographic visual internet. This print is an example of how craft and reproductive technologies converged to shape visual culture.