Reverse Copy of La Caverne de Brigands (The Cave of Thieves), from "Les Caprices" 1620 - 1700

This is a reverse copy of “La Caverne de Brigands,” or “The Cave of Thieves,” an etching from the series “Les Caprices,” made by an anonymous artist. The original print was created by using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The artist would have covered the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched an image into it with a sharp needle. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Finally, ink was applied to the plate, filling the grooves, and the surface was wiped clean. When pressed against paper, the image transferred, resulting in the print we see here. The dense network of fine lines creates a dramatic scene of brigands in their hideout. This reproductive print makes one think about wider social issues. The amount of work that went into the making of the original etching is evident and the circulation of the print enables a wider audience to access the image, a sign of a growing market for art and visual culture. Considering the materials, making, and social context, it challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by underscoring the labor and skill involved in printmaking, and how such techniques democratize access to imagery.