Mechanical printing of wallpaper. 19th century artwork of workers operating a machine for the mechanical printing of wallpaper. Paper was relatively expensive until the advent of steam- driven paper-making processes in the 19th century. Increasing mechanisation led to automated production lines like this one, where continuous production was possible. Artwork taken from Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l'Industrie (Great Men and Great Facts of Industry), France, circa 1880.