Karl Legien 

This portrait of Karl Legien is by Max Liebermann. It’s made using the etching process, a printmaking technique with a long history. To create an etching, a metal plate is first coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal underneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are “bitten,” creating incised lines in the metal. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The crisp lines and delicate shading visible in this portrait demonstrate Liebermann’s mastery of this complex technique, one which carries a long history of both artistic and commercial reproduction. Notice how the marks vary in density and direction, giving form to Legien's features and clothing. The portrait's success depends on the skilled labor involved. Paying attention to materials, process and social context helps us understand this artwork, inviting us to question traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.