Macbeth and Macduff (Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 8) 1827

This print, depicting the final duel between Macbeth and Macduff, was made by Joseph Phelps in the early 19th century using a technique called etching. The image is created by incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing the plate onto paper. What interests me most about this print is its accessibility, the etching technique allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction. This contrasts with the subject matter, Shakespeare's Macbeth, which is obviously a very high-status cultural reference. Prints like these democratized art and literature, bringing scenes from the stage into people's homes. The level of detail achieved through etching, from the folds in the characters' clothing to the dramatic shading, speaks to the skill involved in the process, yet this was a skill aimed at mass production, not unique artistic creation. This piece shows us how the materials and processes used to create art can challenge our assumptions about high and low culture, and how art can serve as a vehicle for social change.