Emmaüsgangers before 1732

Gabriel Huquier made this print, "Emmaüsgangers," sometime in the 18th century using etching. It's an economical medium, yet capable of great detail. Look closely, and you'll see how the fine lines create the image, capturing light and shadow. Etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites away the exposed metal. The plate is then inked and printed. The acid does the work, but the etcher determines where it will bite. This was one way of multiplying images that could be distributed widely, much like today’s digital images. Prints like this democratized art, bringing religious and historical scenes to a broader audience beyond the wealthy elite. So, next time you see an etching, consider the labor and the social context that made it possible. It’s not just an image, it’s a product of its time, made with specific tools and techniques, for a particular audience.