Zelfportret van Dominique Vivant Denon before 1803

This self-portrait was made by Dominique Vivant Denon using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production in the 18th and 19th centuries. Denon would have covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratched his composition into it with a needle. Next, the plate was submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. Ink was then applied to the etched lines, and the plate pressed onto paper. This could be repeated hundreds of times. The image is a testament to the artist's skill, and also to the wider availability of art materials during this period. The relative ease of etching compared to other printmaking methods allowed for greater artistic freedom. Consider the way in which reproductive technologies, like etching, shaped artistic expression and broadened access to visual culture. By attending to the materials and processes behind this self-portrait, we appreciate its significance within the broader landscape of art and society.