The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling in a path-dependent manner the force generated by a piston. A first piston travels in a first cylinder—divided into a first and second chamber by the first piston—together with a pressure fluid. A second cylinder is provided in which a second piston travels. Like the first cylinder, the second cylinder is also divided by the second piston into a first and a second chamber, in this case by the second piston. The first and second pistons are coupled mechanically. The pressure in the second chamber of the second cylinder is regulated such that it is always equal to the counterpressure in the first chamber of the second cylinder and the second chamber of the first cylinder.