Marie Antoinette gevangen in de Tour du Temple 1821 - 1869

Charles Augustin Wauters created this print of Marie Antoinette in prison using etching, a traditional technique involving acid to bite lines into a metal plate. Look closely, and you’ll see that the quality of the etched line is key to the image’s impact. The artist has created the figures and the somber atmosphere with careful, deliberate strokes. The fineness of the detail allows for a very high degree of naturalism. You see the texture of the fabric in Marie Antoinette's dress, and the rough surface of the prison walls. The deliberate, skilled work required to make this etching reflects a commitment to traditional artistic values. Yet, the image also engages with the political turmoil of its time, reflecting on themes of labor, class, and the consequences of revolution. In its way, the print is a commentary on the value of skilled craftsmanship and the social upheavals that can overturn even the most privileged lives. It reminds us that materials, making, and context are crucial to understanding any work of art.