A Symphony c. 19th century

Frederick Stuart Church created "A Symphony," using etching, a printmaking process that democratizes image production. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Using a needle, he scratched an image into this ground, exposing the metal. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the inked image. The process allows for multiples, and here we see the subject matter is middle-class leisure: a woman playing the banjo for two reclining cherubs. Though seemingly lighthearted, the image belies the labor involved. The etcher's craft, the printer's skill, and the paper maker's efforts all contribute to the work's existence. "A Symphony" prompts us to consider not just the visible image, but also the often-unseen hands that bring art to the masses.