Allégorie des mariages faits par la ville de Paris à la naissance du duc de Bourgogne (Allegory of the Marriages Performed by the City of Paris in Honor of the Birth of the Duc de Bourgogne in 1751)

A tall, fancy column stands in the middle, with figures climbing all over it like a tree.

This picture is a busy black-and-white scene packed with people and plants. A tall, fancy column stands in the middle, with figures climbing all over it like a tree. At the top, cherubs and flowers spill out over the edges. The bottom has a long French title that’s hard to read.

The artist used lines to show every leaf and fold of cloth. This style was common in 1751 when the print was made. The title hints at a celebration for a royal birth.

Check out how etching works to see how artists create these fine details.