Goochelaar treedt op voor publiek op kermis 1782

Carel Frederik Bendorp made this print, ‘Goochelaar treedt op voor publiek op kermis,’ employing the etching technique. To create this print, Bendorp would have applied a waxy ground to a metal plate, drawn into it with a needle to expose the metal, and then immersed the plate in acid. The acid bites away at the exposed lines, creating the image, which is then inked and printed. The image captures a bustling fair scene, where the labor of entertainment is on full display. The magician, elevated on a platform, performs for a diverse audience, and reminds us of the world of spectacle and leisure that depended on the hard work and skill of performers. Etching was a precise method, suited to capturing the details of everyday life, but also speaks to the growing market for reproducible images in the 18th century. Considering the materials and processes of production allows us to appreciate the craft involved, and the broader economic context that made such images possible.