The metallic rattle of letters pouring down the linotype machine into lead cast texts reverberates through a spacious workshop where a sole linotypist brings manuscripts to graphic life. Here lies a remnant of a former revolutionary printing era, still operative, but threatened by modern technology. It was thanks to the donation of parts of a linotype machine that Imprenta Patriótica was born, under the guardianship of the Caro y Cuervo Institute of Colombia. From text typing to bookbinding, all the processes involved in the making of a book remain mechanical and manual at La Imprenta Patriótica. A forensic job has been done to classify and restore donated materials, such as carved woodblock types.

Today, La Imprenta Patriótica offers services to the Ministry of Culture, literature and graphic design lovers and students who value this space as a workshop to re-define the materiality of books in the dawn of yet another industrial revolution. They are creating new fonts in a craftsmanship collaboration project including master woodworkers and graphic designers.