Le Départ de Calicot Pour le Combat 1817 - 1818

This print, titled "Le Départ de Calicot Pour le Combat," was made anonymously in the early 19th century using etching and hand-coloring. Its social commentary is built into the very fabric – or rather, the *calico* – of its making. The title itself is a play on words: "calicot" referring not just to the fabric, but also to a foppish shop assistant. The print likely satirizes the bourgeois aspirations of the time, with the figure's exaggerated attire hinting at the excesses of a society fueled by trade and expanding markets. The etching process, involving acid to create lines on a metal plate, allows for the mass production of images. Hand-coloring, on the other hand, adds a layer of individual labor, complicating the relationship between industrialization and artisanal work. This tension mirrors the societal shifts of the era, where traditional crafts were increasingly challenged by mechanized production. Considering materials, making, and context helps us understand the intricate layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple print, challenging the traditional boundaries of art history.