The Turf Macaroni 1771

Matthew Darly made this etching called "The Turf Macaroni" sometime around 1771. Etching is an interesting process: the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratches away lines to expose the metal. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Here, the etched line is consistently fine, creating a sense of delicate mockery. The subject of the print is a "macaroni," a term for a fashionable man who affected Continental manners. Darly was part of a flourishing printmaking industry in London. These images were relatively inexpensive, a kind of social media of their day. Looking at the print, you can see how Darly's skill in etching captures the essence of the macaroni's exaggerated style. In this way, the print itself, as a crafted object, participates in the very culture it satirizes. It reminds us that even seemingly disposable images have a material history, connecting art, craft, and social commentary.