Plate No: 18 (Spiders)

Article description

Original counter proof in colors. Branch of a defoliated guava tree with tarantulas, ants and spiders. In printmaking, a counterproof is a print taken off from another just printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives a copy in reverse, and of course in the same position as that of the plate from which the first was printed, the object being to enable the printmaker to inspect the state of the plate. Counterproofing was used to produce the finest quality copperplate printing; the second print consisted of delicate lines, and lacked the beveled impressions seen in the original print. To counter-prove is also to pass a drawn design in black lead or red chalk through the press, after having moistened with a sponge both that and the paper on which the counterproof is to be taken. (Wikipedia) A fine counterproof imprint from Merian´s finest work „Dissertatio de Generatione et Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium." Peter Dance in „The Art of Natural History", refers to this series as „easily the most magnificent work on insects so far produced... combining sciense and art in equal proportions... „ A counterproof is a technique of pulling an impression from an impression or taking an impression from a freshly printed image that has just been removed from a press before the ink has been allowed to dry. This process allows the artist to replicate as closely as possible the original drawing as they would be oriented in the same direction, show no plate mark an depict only a lightly inked lines. This made them highly suitable for coloring with the end result being as close to the original watercolor as possible. This technique was difficult and time consuming and well as very expensive. This made this production a deluxe or very special edition and was usually reserved for a select few subscribers. This particular edition is rarely seen on the market.

Plate 18