Tecmessa, Her Son and Teucer Lamenting the Dead Ajax 1809

Carl Russ created "Tecmessa, Her Son and Teucer Lamenting the Dead Ajax" using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create an image in metal. The fine lines and delicate tonal gradations we see here are achieved by drawing into a wax-coated metal plate, and then immersing it in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. This painstaking process, requiring skilled draftsmanship and careful control of materials, was essential to the rise of print culture and the dissemination of images in the 19th century. Consider the labor embedded in each print, not only the artist’s hand, but also the printers, the paper makers, and the distributors. The etching medium thus speaks to broader social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. By appreciating the material and making of this print, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance and the historical context in which it was produced.