Raderinger til spillekort, konger og damer 1811 - 1864

Sophus Schack created this etching of playing card figures on paper, sometime in the mid-19th century. The process of etching begins with a metal plate, coated with a waxy ground. The artist then draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid, the drawn lines are etched into the surface. Ink is then applied, filling these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Notice how the etched lines define the forms of the kings and queens, creating a sense of depth and texture. The crispness of the lines, made possible by the etching process, contrasts with the flat, graphic quality of playing cards. Schack was trained as a copperplate engraver, which makes this use of traditional printmaking all the more interesting. Here, this is directed toward a very democratic, mass-produced commodity. Ultimately, the work challenges our assumptions about high art and popular culture, reminding us that even everyday objects can be elevated through skillful making.