Cavalier 1847 - 1890

John-Lewis Brown's "Cavalier" is an etching on paper, a process that’s all about controlled mark-making. The artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn his design, and then submerged the plate in acid to bite away the exposed lines. The material, in this case the manipulated metal plate, dictates the aesthetic. Look at the fineness of the lines, the subtle gradations of tone; these are achieved through careful control of the etching process. You can almost feel the artist's hand guiding the needle, carefully building up the image. The social context here is interesting. Etchings like this were often made in multiples, allowing for wider distribution and consumption of art. The beauty of this work lies not just in the image, but also in the labor and skill involved in its production. It invites us to consider the connections between artistic creation, craft, and the marketplace.