A deformed couple facing each other 1645

Wenceslaus Hollar made this print of a deformed couple in 1645, using etching, a printmaking technique. To create the image, Hollar would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn through it with a needle to expose the metal, and then submerged the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, leaving an incised image that can be inked and printed. The fineness of the etched lines gives the image its distinctive character, delineating the figures with precision. The use of cross-hatching to suggest shadow is also very effective. The lines create a remarkable sense of texture, from the rough, frizzy hair of the man to the soft fabric draped around the woman's head. Prints like these were relatively inexpensive, made to be widely circulated, and consumed. This work offers insight into the cultural attitudes of the 17th century. While on the surface, it might seem a straightforward, even cruel, caricature, it is a testament to Hollar's skill as a draughtsman and printmaker. It challenges us to consider the relationship between the artist, their materials, and the society in which they lived.