Inhabitants of America. / Bewohner von America. / Bewooners van America. / Habitants de l'Amerique 1820 - 1865

"Inhabitants of America," is an undated print by Friedrich Gustav Schulz. It's rendered using a combination of etching and engraving, two processes deeply rooted in the history of printing and image reproduction. The linear precision of these techniques allows for a high level of detail, evident in the depiction of clothing, tools, and figures representing different regions of the Americas. Each figure is meticulously rendered, the lines carefully etched or engraved into the plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. Consider the labor involved in producing such an image: from the initial design to the skilled execution of the etching and engraving, printing, and finally the hand-coloring. These are skills honed through years of apprenticeship and practice, reflecting a complex relationship between artistic vision and the demands of production. The print served as a means of disseminating information, visually categorizing the inhabitants of the Americas. By considering the processes by which images such as this were created, and the means of their circulation, we gain insights into a wider social and political context. This challenges the traditional boundaries between art, craft, and social history.