A Historic Collection of Copperplate Engravings

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A shot in the Chalcographie du Louvre workshop. Lucile Vanstaevel and Bertrand Dupré are around the press. Lucile is holding a sheet on which a part of the colors of The Luncheon on the Grass is printed. They are both about to add a new color.
The printing of The Luncheon on the Grass (KM006890) by Lucile Vanstaevel and Bertrand Dupré

workshop founded in 1797

Unique old engravings

Traditional expertise

Above : The printing of The Luncheon on the Grass (KM006890) by Lucile Vanstaevel and Bertrand Dupré
Since 1797, the Chalcographie du Louvre has conserved and printed from a collection of several thousand engraved copperplates, with the prints destined for sale.
The collection was originally made up of the plates from the Cabinet du Roi, les Menus Plaisirs and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. Throughout the nineteenth century, new plates were added to the Chalcographie, including commissions and old matrices purchased on the art market. Outstanding ensembles, such as the 900 plates of the Description of Egypt, joined the collection during this time. Through this commissions policy, the Chalcographie champions the art of traditional printmaking.
The collection of plates continues to expand to this day, thanks to purchases and commissions from contemporary artists for the printing of original etchings.
Color studies for the printing of The Luncheon on the GrassPhoto du bassin de Latone avec la copie en place
Color studies for the printing of The Luncheon on the Grass
Color studies for the printing of The Luncheon on the Grass
As the guardians of traditional savoir-faire, our intaglio printmakers continue to produce these old engravings from the original copperplates on the historic presses of the art workshop now located in Saint-Denis.
Printing from old plates requires rare expertise and dexterity. The artisan printmaker must contend with the specific qualities of the copperplates, marked by the passing of time, to obtain high-quality engravings.
To produce a result identical to the engraver’s intentions, the workshop conducts in-depth research into intaglio inks. Special attention is paid to the colour result, and different types of black are often mixed together according to their tone – cool or warm – to produce subtle prints.
Explore all the works presented online
Fine collections to discover:
The Villons
Jacques Villon’s (1875-1963) engraved interpretations of works by Picasso, Modigliani, Cézanne, Matisse…
Description of Egypt
Initiated in 1798 by Bonaparte, the Egypt campaign would give rise to an astounding editorial and scientific adventure, to which this collection bears witness.
Contemporary artists
Through its contemporary commissions to living artists, the Louvre contributes to the enrichment of its collection of engraved plates : Louise Bourgeois, Pierre Alechinsky, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Annette Messager, Cyprien Gaillars, Eva Jospin, Giuseppe Penone…