Charles Primrose voltrekt het huwelijk van zijn kinderen 1776

This print, “Charles Primrose voltrekt het huwelijk van zijn kinderen” was made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, using etching, a printmaking technique. The fineness of the etched lines determines the level of detail in the picture, allowing the artist to describe the scene's architecture, and the figures' elaborate costumes. Etching is a labor-intensive process. A metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant material, through which the artist scratches the design. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then printed onto paper. The intricacy of this etching demonstrates the artist’s mastery of the medium, achieved through years of practice. The finished print, as a multiple, was much more affordable than a painting, therefore, it could be sold and distributed widely. This speaks to the democratization of art, and the rise of a middle-class audience in the 18th century, who were hungry for images of everyday life. Chodowiecki has created here not just an artwork, but an artifact that reflects the social and economic transformations of his time.