Joodse straatventer Possibly 1772 - 1833

This etching of a Jewish street vendor was made by Mathias de Sallieth, who lived in the late 18th century. The printmaking process itself is key to understanding this artwork. Sallieth would have used a sharp needle to draw the image onto a metal plate coated with wax. This required immense dexterity to create the fine lines and details. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. The plate was inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The etching medium is significant. It allowed for the mass production of images, making art accessible to a wider audience, and providing a means for artists to disseminate their observations of everyday life. Here, Sallieth’s delicate labor mirrors that of the street vendor, drawing our attention to the social context of work, trade, and class. By understanding the craft of printmaking, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artistic skill and the social context in which this image was created.