Ruhende Bauern bei einer Osteria 

Johann Friedrich Morgenstern created this etching, titled "Resting Farmers at an Osteria," using ink on paper. The visible lines and tonal variations speak to the etching process, where the artist would have used a needle to draw into a wax-covered metal plate, which was then submerged in acid. The acid would bite into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The use of etching here is notable. Rather than oil paint on canvas, Morgenstern chose a medium associated with printmaking and the multiple, which speaks to a broader distribution of images and ideas, aligning with the changing social landscape of the time. He may have chosen the medium for its reproducibility, allowing for a wider audience and potentially generating income through the sale of prints, offering insight into the commercial aspects of art production. Considering the materials, making, and social context allows for a richer, more meaningful encounter with the image.