Offer aan Apollo 1719

‘Offer aan Apollo’ was made by Bernard Picart around 1719, using the printmaking technique of etching. This intaglio process involves drawing into a prepared ground on a metal plate with a sharp needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites away the exposed lines. Multiple stages of this action can create the image. Etching flourished in tandem with the rise of industrialization, as new methods of metal production allowed for increasingly detailed and efficient forms of image reproduction. Picart's etching embodies this tension between handcraft and industrial production, as it allowed for the widespread dissemination of his artwork and ideas, echoing the dynamics of labor, politics, and consumption inherent in the depicted scene. In considering works like this, we appreciate the subtle textures and tonalities achieved through an intricate and laborious procedure.