I tell you (dogmatically, if you like to call it so…
“I tell you (dogmatically, if you like to call it so, knowing it well) a square inch of man's engraving is worth all the photographs that were ever dipped in acid... Believe me, photography can do against line engraving just what Madame Tussaud's wax-work can do against sculpture. That and no more. (1865)”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A tiny engraved image cannot match the expressive power of a photograph, just as wax figures cannot replace sculpture.
In simple terms: Engraving is limited compared to photography.
Value new media for its unique strengths.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- art education
- visual communication
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do tools shape artistic expression?
- When is traditional media still superior?
New media may lack depth of traditional techniques.