Vrouw die een man eten geeft vanaf een gekanteelde muur 1861

Charles De Groux created this etching called *Vrouw die een man eten geeft vanaf een gekanteelde muur*, or *Woman Feeding a Man from a Battlemented Wall*, sometime in the mid-19th century. The artist most likely used a copper plate, covered with wax, into which the design was then scratched with a needle. Immersing the plate in acid, the design was then bitten into the surface, which allowed for the image to be printed. The stark contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the bleakness of the scene: a woman in a tower providing sustenance to a man below. The texture of the etching, achieved through fine lines and cross-hatching, renders a gritty reality. De Groux engaged with the traditional technique of etching to depict a scene of profound social commentary. Consider the labor and politics embedded in the work; the laborious process of etching mirroring the effort required for survival in a world marked by inequality. It reminds us that even traditional fine art techniques can be powerful tools for addressing social issues.