The Barber 1737

This print, "The Barber," was made by Anne Claude Philippe Caylus using etching, a printmaking technique, in which lines are incised into a metal plate, and then the plate is inked and pressed onto paper. The magic of etching lies in its capacity to capture a wealth of detail. Notice how Caylus uses line density to create areas of light and shadow. This is most evident in the folds of the barber's clothing, adding depth and volume to the figure. Through these skillful variations in line, Caylus brings a sense of materiality to the print, describing the textures of the barber's linen wrap and the straw seat of the chair. By focusing on the figure of a barber, Caylus brings our attention to the lives of working people, and the laboring classes of 18th-century France. Through his etching technique, he elevates this everyday scene, inviting us to consider the value and dignity of all forms of work. In doing so, he blurred the lines between high art and the representation of common life.