En måde at flyve på (Hvor der er vilje, er der vej) 1815 - 1824

This print was made by Francisco Goya, and it's called 'A Way to Fly'. It was made using a technique called etching, a printmaking process that involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, and then using that plate to make multiple images on paper. The process is laborious, and its indirect nature adds a layer of complexity to the image. Notice the lines that define the figures and their fantastical flying machines. The acid bites into the metal, leaving grooves that hold ink, creating an image with depth and texture. The image, in turn, shows figures floating, and more likely failing to fly, as though their machines will never leave the ground. Goya was working during a period of great social upheaval, and etching allowed him to create multiple copies of his images, reaching a wider audience. In this way, printmaking democratizes art. It makes art accessible to those excluded from society, and it allows artists to comment on the society around them, challenging the traditional distinctions between high art and craft.