Capital Letters, from Encyclopédie

Art Historical Context

Step into the Enlightenment with *Capital Letters, from Encyclopédie*, an exquisite 1760 engraving by Aubin. Created as part of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's groundbreaking *Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers*—the era's most ambitious compendium of knowledge—this plate exemplifies the project's mission to democratize information. Published between 1751 and 1772, the *Encyclopédie* featured thousands of detailed illustrations, blending art and science to document trades, tools, and typography. Aubin's contribution captures capital letters with precision, likely showcasing typographic forms vital to printing and design during a time when literacy and publishing were revolutionizing society. Rendered in engraving on cream laid paper (40 × 26 cm), the work highlights the intaglio technique's mastery: fine lines incised into a metal plate, inked, and pressed to produce sharp, reproducible images. This medium was ideal for the *Encyclopédie*'s plates, allowing widespread dissemination of technical knowledge despite censorship threats. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, it reflects 18th-century French neoclassicism's clarity and rationality, bridging artistry with utility. Today, this unassuming yet profound piece reminds us of printmaking's role in the intellectual ferment of the Enlightenment, where images educated as powerfully as words. A testament to collaborative genius, it invites you to appreciate the elegant anatomy of letters that shaped modern communication.