Bottle of bass, glass and package of tobacco 1914

This etching was made by Pablo Picasso, and it depicts everyday commodities like tobacco, beer, and glass. Picasso chose etching as a method, and paper as a medium. Etching is a printmaking process that relies on skilled application and control of corrosive acids; the paper further informs the work because it is relatively cheap and therefore tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The print portrays everyday objects and leisure activities that the working class may engage in. The artist used etching techniques, along with other tools, to create the work. These techniques belong to other histories of creative practices and aesthetics, alongside that of craft and fine arts. Much like labor, the process of etching takes time, skill, and dedication. It elevates the status of these activities, and asks us to reflect on the significance of everyday life and its relationship to the world of fine art.