Voltaire engraving by Johann Elias Haid

What it is

This is a sepia-toned engraving, a print made by carving an image into a metal plate and printing it onto paper. It was created by the German engraver Johann Elias Haid and shows an older man in a powdered wig and period coat, set within an oval frame topped by a ribbon bow. The name VOLTAIRE is printed below the portrait, along with small signature text in the corners. The engraving is held by Leipzig University Library in Germany.

Why it matters

Engravings like this were an important way that images of famous writers and thinkers spread across Europe before photography existed. This print shows how Voltaire's face became widely known, made and distributed by craftsmen like Haid rather than by Voltaire himself.

Look closer

• Why do you think engravers added decorative frames and ribbons around portraits like this one?
• What might the small text in the corners tell us about who made the print and when?
• How might an engraved portrait differ from a painted one in how it shows a person?