The diplomat 

Mariano Fortuny Marsal created this print, titled 'The Diplomat,' using etching, a printmaking technique. The process involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches through this ground with a needle to expose the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are bitten, creating grooves. Ink is applied to these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. In this particular print, Fortuny’s skillful manipulation of the etching process is evident. The density of the lines creates a range of tonal values, from the deep blacks of the background to the delicate grays of the diplomat’s face. The varying line weights and textures give the image a rich, almost painterly quality. But beyond the technical mastery, this print demonstrates the possibilities of etching as a medium for nuanced expression. It offered artists like Fortuny a means of creating multiple originals, making art more accessible to a wider audience and engaging with the social and economic currents of the time. Ultimately, 'The Diplomat' shows that printmaking is more than just reproduction; it's a creative process with its own unique aesthetic and social resonance.