Dronken kleermaker Balthazar Knoopius ondersteund door twee mannen 1813

This print, Dronken kleermaker Balthazar Knoopius ondersteund door twee mannen, was made around 1813 by Johannes Christiaan Bendorp using etching, a printmaking technique. To create this image, Bendorp likely coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched away lines to expose the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. This process was repeated, deepening and widening the lines to create the image. The plate was then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The choice of etching, with its linear quality, is appropriate for the subject: a scene of everyday life involving labor. The unsteady lines of the inebriated tailor and his supporters subtly speak to the challenges and potential pitfalls faced by the working class. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward depictions of life are deeply entwined with the realities of labor, society, and context.