Kozakken, Huzaren en Kurassiers in gevecht 1790

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this etching, "Cossacks, Hussars and Cuirassiers in Battle," around the late 18th century. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique, where a metal plate, usually copper or zinc, is covered with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The entire plate is inked and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched grooves. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The etched lines give the image a distinctive quality, a sense of immediacy, as if rapidly drawn. This aesthetic was in high demand in the 18th century, as images like this one circulated widely. So, the print participates both in a tradition of fine art and a broader culture of illustration.