Herberg met gasten 1840 - 1877

This print, ‘Herberg met gasten,’ was made by Johann Wilhelm Kaiser. It’s an etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. This one is particularly fine; notice the density of lines, which create a wide range of tones and textures. Kaiser has skillfully described the textures of the clothing, the rough plastered walls and the glassy surface of the windows, and even the frothy head on the beer. Of course, this kind of printmaking depends on a whole system of production. The original scene would have been painted or drawn, then painstakingly translated into the etching, then printed in multiples. It’s a fascinating example of how the Industrial Revolution influenced the art world, allowing images to be disseminated widely, and shaping popular tastes along the way. So when we look at this image of men drinking in a tavern, we’re not just seeing a depiction of social life. We’re also looking at an object that was itself enabled by new forms of labor, consumption, and politics.