Ladies and Gentlemen Playing Billiards 1756

This print, "Ladies and Gentlemen Playing Billiards," was made in 1756 by Johann Esaias Nilson, using etching and engraving. This was a reproductive method, and so the labor that went into the making of the print is indirect, a copy of an original painting or drawing. Take a look at the ornate border, and consider the precision required to create such detail in the lines. The artist would have used a sharp tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate. Ink is then applied, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Nilson’s printmaking captures the scene's Rococo elegance, a style associated with leisure, luxury, and the aristocracy. The act of playing billiards itself, captured here with such care, speaks to a culture of refined pastimes among the privileged classes. Appreciating the skill involved in both playing the game, and creating this print, invites us to think about the relationship between labor, leisure, and the artistic crafts of the 18th century.