Allegorie op het ware patriotisme, 1788 1788

Mathias de Sallieth created this etching titled, "Allegorie op het ware patriotisme", in 1788. Etching is an intaglio printmaking method, requiring the artist to protect areas of a metal plate with a resistant ground, often wax, before immersing it in acid. The acid bites into the unprotected areas, creating recessed lines that hold ink. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. In this allegorical composition, the precise lines and tonal variations are due to the skilled manipulation of acid and the careful application of the ground. Sallieth’s technique allowed for detailed renderings of complex scenes, filled with symbolic figures and intricate details. The print served as a medium for political expression during a period of social and political change. Considering the labor involved in creating this image, it's clear that printmaking was not merely a reproductive technique but a highly skilled practice, reflecting broader issues of craftsmanship, labor, and the dissemination of ideas in the late 18th century.