Man met bok 1763 - 1804

Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Unger made this etching, Man met bok, in the late 18th century. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking technique, where the image is incised into a metal plate, here most likely copper, using a tool called a burin. The plate is inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Then, paper is pressed against the plate with great force, transferring the image to the paper. The physical properties of metal lend themselves to the creation of extremely fine, precise lines, which you can see here in the rendering of the man’s elaborate costume, and the goat’s shaggy fur. Creating such details requires considerable skill, as well as time. This little print, then, is evidence of the engraver’s virtuosity, intended to translate the spirit of fantasy into a tangible and reproducible form. Considering the materials, making, and context is essential for understanding the full meaning of this artwork, blurring boundaries between fine art and craft.