Scène uit een gedicht met een koppel in een slaapkamer 1776 - 1800

This undated print, "Scene from a Poem with a Couple in a Bedroom," was made by an anonymous artist, using the technique of etching. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating a print. The material quality of etching lends itself to finely detailed, linear imagery – but it also speaks to the social conditions of art production. Unlike painting, which typically results in a unique artwork, etching allows for the creation of multiple impressions. This aligns with the rise of print culture and the increasing accessibility of images to a wider audience, reflecting broader shifts in labor and consumption. The print's existence as one of many, emphasizes its role within a larger system of dissemination and exchange, rather than as a singular, precious object.