The Minstrel 1873

This is Charles Louis de Courtay’s “The Minstrel,” an engraving on paper. Engraving is an old printing method, where the artist manually cuts lines into a metal plate, applies ink, and presses the plate onto paper. De Courtay's minutely incised lines create light and shadow, bringing depth to the scene. Look closely, and you'll appreciate how this material process influences the print’s appearance, its textures and tonal range. In this artwork, the minstrel figure provides entertainment in return for money or gifts, revealing a historical intersection of artistic skill and social economy. Courtay was engaging with a well-worn artistic trope, depicting the itinerant musician. The minstrel’s labor is romanticized here. Yet the artist’s own labor – the sheer amount of work involved in producing the engraving – encourages us to appreciate the work that goes into all forms of cultural production. By emphasizing the materials, making, and social context of this print, we can broaden our understanding of art, and challenge traditional distinctions between craft and fine art.