Five Butterflies and a Moth after 1644

Wenceslaus Hollar created this print of five butterflies and a moth using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime before his death in 1677. The process begins with a metal plate covered in a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Hollar would have used a needle to scratch away the ground, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid then bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied, filling only the etched lines, and then the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Consider the labor invested in each print: the meticulous scratching, the careful application of acid, and the precise inking and pressing. Hollar was renowned for his prolific output, which was necessary for him to make a living. Prints like these were commercial products, akin to mass-produced images today. Yet, the skill required and the delicate balance of chemistry and craft elevate them beyond mere commodities. They blur the line between art and industry, reminding us that even seemingly simple images are products of complex processes and social contexts.