Robert en Klärchen 1796

This print, made by Daniel Chodowiecki, dates back to the late 18th century, a period when printmaking was central to the spread of information and visual culture. The image is created through etching, a process involving coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through the wax to expose the metal, and then submerging the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. It’s a relatively indirect process, allowing for fine detail but also requiring careful control. In its own time, etching was valued for its capacity to cheaply disseminate images to a growing middle-class audience. Prints like these weren't just artworks; they were a form of social currency, a way to share stories and ideas, and a product of an increasingly industrialized world of image-making. Appreciating its value involves recognizing its place within the broader context of labor, politics, and consumption.