Photo : Cliché Mathilde Payen
Transform your favorite image into a Tetra Pak engraving!
Turn humble milk cartons into professional printing plates by mastering the delicate art of intaglio engraving. Under the expert eye of a local illustrator, you will bring your favorite images to life, from the initial carving to the final ink press. Perfect for creative spirits looking to explore an upcycled craft that can easily be replicated at home.
Bibliothèque Forney (Paris 4th)
About
The Bibliothèque Forney hosts a creative workshop on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 14:00 to 16:30, dedicated to intaglio printing techniques. Designed for adults aged 18 and over, this session allows you to transform everyday tetra pak milk cartons into unique engraving plates. Under the guidance of professional artist and engraver Mathilde Payen, you will explore every stage of the process, from carving to inking and final printing. This event is free of charge, though booking via the library's official email is required. Come discover how to turn recycled materials into art while helping build a temporary collective pocket museum.
Using an alternative medium, Tetra Pak (or in other words milk cartons), you will be able to discover a traditional technique dating back to the Middle Ages: intaglio engraving.
Each participant is invited to bring a reference image, which they will transcribe into an engraving.
Mathilde Payen, author and engraver, will guide you through the entire process: engraving, inking, wiping, and finally printing.
Since the purpose of engraving is to reproduce an image, you will be invited to reproduce your engraving several times, in order to collectively create a pocket museum.
You will leave with all the knowledge necessary to do this workshop at home, with ease!
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The workshop leader
Mathilde Payen is a comic book author, but has also created a children's book and a young adult novel. In her work, she uses traditional techniques: painting, inks, watercolor, and of course, Tetra Pak engraving! The Forney Library holds some of her productions in its collection of graphic zines.
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Practical information
The workshop is open to adults
Come with your Tetra Pak and an image (photo, printout)
Our take on this event
Learn the traditional craft of intaglio printing with Mathilde Payen, an author and engraver whose work is featured in the collections of the Bibliothèque Forney. During this session, you will discover how to repurpose tetra pak cartons as printing plates. Please arrive with a reference image you wish to engrave, as well as your own empty milk carton to serve as the base for your creation.
The workshop guides you through the entire artistic process, including carving, inking, wiping, and printing. The goal is to produce multiple prints of your work, which will be part of a collaborative pocket museum. By the end of the session, you will have gained the knowledge to replicate this technique at home. This event is open to adults only, and booking your place via the library's email is mandatory.
