Invention of engraving in medieval Europe. This engraver is holding a copperplate depiction of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child. Engraving to produce prints on paper first began with the use of copperplate engraving in Germany in the early 15th century. This artwork is from a series of illustrated French encyclopedia volumes, published by the Epinal printing firm in the late 19th and early 20th century. The series was called 'Serie encyclopedique des lecons de choses illustrees' (Encyclopedic series of object lessons illustrated), and this example is from a volume published in around 1900.