The Welder 

Otto August Kühler made this print of a welder using etching, a traditional printmaking technique. The process involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The material effect of the print is very powerful. The stark contrast of light and dark emphasizes the intense, dangerous nature of the welder's work. Note the density of marks used to depict the worker’s clothing, suggesting wear and tear and an everyday practicality. Kühler has used line to convey the intensity of the light created by the welding torch. It’s fascinating to see such an industrial subject rendered with traditional means. Etching allowed artists to disseminate imagery widely, connecting fine art with the world of labor and industry. It makes you think about the amount of work involved in producing a print like this, a parallel to the strenuous work of the man depicted. By paying attention to materials, making, and context we can challenge distinctions between fine art and craft, and understand this artwork more fully.