Don Quichot lezend in een ridderroman 1770

Daniel Chodowiecki created this etching of Don Quixote reading in a chivalric romance. It’s a tiny thing, just under 10 centimeters tall, and would have been printed in multiples, likely as an illustration for a book. The etching process allows for very fine lines, seen in the details of the bookshelf, the armor, and the dog. The artist would have covered a copper plate with wax, then drawn this composition with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite away the lines, creating grooves to hold ink. This printmaking method, though relatively industrialized, still required skilled labor. The image, showing Don Quixote captivated by tales of heroism, may seem far removed from the realities of production, but it is important to remember that books, armor, even food on the table – all are products of someone’s labor.