Twee voorstellingen uit het leven van Theseus 1794

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made these etchings of the life of Theseus sometime in the late 18th century. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique; the image is incised into a metal plate, usually copper. The plate is covered with a waxy ground, upon which the artist scratches the design. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. Look closely at the images. Notice the fine web of lines that make up the composition, like threads woven together. This texture results directly from the etching process. The varying depths and densities create a range of tones and details, bringing depth and complexity to the scene. Chodowiecki would have needed skill and patience to execute this. The production of prints was a growing industry at this time. Etchings like these were relatively inexpensive to produce and could be widely distributed. They brought art to a broader audience, feeding a growing market for accessible imagery. The material and the making are thus central to its cultural significance, bringing classical myths to a new public.