Illustration til Johan Krohn, "Peters jul" 1847 - 1870

This is an illustration by F. Hendriksen for Johan Krohn's "Peters jul," made sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is made by etching, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid. Look closely, and you'll see that the image is created from a dense network of tiny etched lines, defining the forms and creating tonal variation. This labour-intensive process was crucial to the expansion of the mass media and the book industry, and thus to the wider distribution of culture. Consider also the way the drawing mimics a child's perspective through the composition. It is as if the artist has captured the world through a child's eyes. The medium of print is perfect for this type of intimate imagery, allowing for the widespread circulation of these scenes. It reminds us that even seemingly simple illustrations are products of specific technologies, labour, and social contexts.