Toussaint Louverture on Horseback 1802

This print of Toussaint Louverture was made by an anonymous artist using etching and watercolor. It's on paper, a cheap, widely available material symptomatic of the print revolution. The mode of production here is key. Printmaking allowed images to circulate widely. Here, the etching process involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing an image through the wax, then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites away the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. This plate is then used to create a print, and after, artisans add watercolor by hand. These prints were often associated with political movements, in this case the Haitian Revolution, and the material carries social significance. It was a tool for disseminating ideas, celebrating heroes, and shaping public opinion. It is a perfect example of how art and craft intersect to shape social consciousness.