Illustration nr. 19 til "L`Amour et Psyché" 1862

This illustration to "L`Amour et Psyché" was made by Lorenz Frølich, likely in the late 19th century. It's an etching, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Notice how the etched lines define form and create shading, giving the image its distinctive graphic quality. Unlike a painting or drawing, etching allows for the creation of multiple identical images. The print embodies skilled labor, and aesthetic sensibilities rooted in mythology. It stands at the intersection of craft and fine art, its production dependent on the artist's technical mastery of the etching process, and their artistic ability. This work, born from a combination of technique, and artistic expression invites us to consider the value we place on different forms of making, and the stories they tell us about the cultures that produce them.