Broadside with 48 scenes from the life of the Count of Monte Cristo 1860

This broadside, made in Madrid in 1800 by José María Marés, unfolds the tale of the Count of Monte Cristo across 48 scenes, printed on a single sheet. The artist employs the graphic technique of etching, cutting lines into a metal plate with acid, which would have been relatively quick to reproduce. The use of printing allowed for affordable distribution, indicating a consumer culture where stories transcended social boundaries, appealing to a broad audience, hungry for adventure. Consider the labor involved: from the writer of the novel, to the many hands involved in the printing and distribution process. Each print is not only a piece of visual storytelling but a record of industrial production and popular appeal. By focusing on the materials, and production of the work, we gain insight into the cultural and social significance it held for its original audience, pointing towards the democratization of art in the age of print.