Page:The Polygraphic Apparatus.djvu/40

 35 In the same manner as the painter will, at not too distant a period, be unable to do without the photographical apparatus ···· which draws for him an exact copy of every thing extant ——-· in the same manner the photographical apparatus furnishes the copper- plate engraver with the correct, diminished outlines of any pic- ture that he may intend to copy —— or of the same size or larger if he requires it -·-· and by means of the galvanic stream the mul- tiplication of his engraving is effected. Its expensiveness and inability for competition vanished, therefore, at the moment when the copying of engraved plates was made possible; and it only depends now on the designing artists themselves to keep the copper-plate engravers more employed —- or, if a want of desi- gners or original pictures should be felt, let the copper-plate en- graver make his selection for copying from galleries. The designer may surely ask, ,,For whom shall I draw? who will remunerate i me for my labour?“ The coppcr·plate engraver will make the l like remark with regard to his labour. And if I come to the pub- lisher or print-seller, he will remark, ,,I have as much engraved, v as I see people show inclination to buy, and I prefer being satis- r fied with a small commission on the articles I sell, than running ‘ any risk! But this commission-business is the cause of propaga- ting foreign productions in a greater measure, and by it foreign publishers are enabled so much the easier to enter any specula- tion, because they do not only find a ready market at home, but their productions meet also with willing purchasers all over Austria. What is the reason hereof? Want of equal emulation with the foreign artists. -- And why should that be the case? From want of enterprising publishers. ·-- And what is the cause hereof 7 Want of large capital and of an institution that makes a proper business of it to enter into enterprises of that kind; perchance also want of a sufficient number of subscribers to, or purchasers L of, such artistical objects that are published at home. ‘ This ought, according to our opinion, be remedied in all Q directions in the most efficacious manner. Popular subjects ought z 3 ° s