Soldiers in a Cave Receiving Blessings from Heaven 1810 - 1883

This print, *Soldiers in a Cave Receiving Blessings from Heaven*, was made in the 1800s by Franz von Hauslab the Younger using a technique called etching. The process starts with a metal plate, usually copper or zinc, covered with a waxy ground. The artist then draws into this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. Next, the plate is immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines become. This is key, because when the plate is inked, the ink resides in these etched lines. Paper is then pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Look closely at the lines, at the contrast between light and shadow which defines the image, this is all a consequence of Hauslab’s labor and the unique properties of acid and metal. Consider, also, the labor involved in printing itself, which would have been considerable. It's a reminder that every artwork is the result of a complex interplay between concept, material, and making.