Untitled (Copper) 1938

This image, by Lewis Rubenstein, is a print, likely an etching or aquatint, processes that use acid to bite into a copper plate. The velvety textures achieved are due to the nature of the process, where the artist controls the depth and density of the etched lines. Rubenstein has used these techniques to create an atmospheric image, the copper plate itself offering a tonal range, from the bright highlights to the deep shadows. A figure is hunched over, perhaps working or tending to something unseen in the darkness. The printmaking process lends itself well to depictions of labor, both in terms of the work required to produce the image, and the social realities it can portray. Printmaking is a process with a rich history, a medium that sits at the intersection of art and craft, requiring technical skill and artistic vision. It is important to appreciate the labor and technical knowledge involved in the printmaking process, and to see it not just as a means of reproduction, but as a creative practice in its own right.