Europe in 1878 as comic figures under a vast green octopus
Augusto Grossi — La Piovra Russa: Carta Serio-Comica 1878 | Satirical Map Print
Note: Framed prints require slightly longer production time
Why this print is worth it
Archival giclée on Hahnemühle fine-art paper
Made as fine art, not as a mass-market poster.
We reproduce each work from high-quality source material using a 12-ink archival giclée process on Hahnemühle fine-art paper, chosen to preserve the colour, detail and character of the original as faithfully as possible.
“The quality of color and paper is museum quality and well worth the purchase price.”
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A caricature map of Europe in which each country is a costumed figure. A huge olive-green octopus labelled Russia sprawls across the upper right, its tentacles reaching around Germany, a white-bearded figure in a blue uniform and helmet, and Austria-Hungary in yellow. Turkey is a pink-robed figure at the lower right, Italy a figure on roller skates, Greece a crab, and Norway and Sweden two sleeping figures in nightcaps in a white bed. A boxed title at lower right reads Carta serio-comica pel 1878.
The original: a satirical map of Europe for 1878, catalogued by the Library of Congress as Papagallo no. 15, anno VI.
Augusto Grossi (1835–1919) was an Italian caricaturist and illustrator. His satirical map La Piovra Russa, published in the comic paper Il Papagallo in 1878, drew the Europe of the Russo-Turkish War as a continent gripped by a Russian octopus.
Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.
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FAQ
Fine-art quality should be something you can verify. Here is exactly what goes into a 9 Art Prints reproduction.
What makes a 9 Art Prints reproduction different?
A lot of art-print sellers describe their work as “museum quality” without telling you what that actually means. We prefer specifications. Our fine-art reproductions are produced using professional giclée printing on genuine Hahnemühle fine-art papers, selected to suit the artwork. We work from high-resolution source material and prepare each image specifically for print, with close attention to colour, detail and tonal range.
What paper do you use?
Our principal fine-art papers include Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm and Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm. German Etching has a substantial, lightly textured surface that works exceptionally well for paintings and richly coloured works. Photo Rag has a smoother cotton surface suited to graphic, modernist and highly detailed imagery.
Paper is selected according to the character of the artwork rather than using one generic stock for everything.
What does “giclée” actually mean?
Giclée is a professional fine-art printing process using archival pigment inks and high-resolution inkjet technology. Unlike inexpensive poster printing, it is designed to reproduce subtle colour gradations, fine detail and tonal depth.
It is a reproduction method widely used by artists, photographers, galleries and professional fine-art printers.
So is this really “museum quality”?
We would rather tell you what we use and let you decide. Genuine Hahnemühle fine-art paper, professional giclée printing, archival pigment inks and carefully prepared high-resolution artwork are measurable things.
“Museum quality” by itself is not.
Will large prints still look sharp?
Large-format reproduction depends heavily on the quality of the underlying artwork file. We source the highest-resolution material available and prepare each image for print rather than simply enlarging a small internet image.
That is especially important with historic paintings, posters and archival works where source quality varies considerably.
Are these just posters?
No. A poster can be printed cheaply on lightweight commercial paper. Our fine-art editions are intended as permanent pieces of wall art, produced on heavyweight fine-art substrates with professional printing methods.
For graphic or poster artwork, the image may be a historic poster; the object you receive is still a fine-art reproduction.
What about your framed prints?
Our framed pieces use solid-wood frames and are produced as finished pieces of wall art rather than inexpensive poster frames. Depending on the configuration, we also offer matting and premium glazing options.
The goal is the same as with the print itself: use materials appropriate for a piece you intend to keep.
Will the colours look exactly like my screen?
Screens emit light; paper reflects it, so no physical print can be identical to every monitor or phone display. We prepare our artwork specifically for print and aim for accurate colour, contrast and tonal reproduction.
The texture and surface of fine-art paper also give the finished piece a physical depth that cannot be shown completely on a screen.
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