Omhelzend paar 1768 - 1796

This tender image, *Omhelzend paar*, was etched by Pieter de Mare around the late 18th century. Etching is a printmaking technique, where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, allowing for highly detailed and reproducible images. Notice how the delicate lines of the etching define the figures' clothing, and capture the intimacy of the embrace. The quality of line in an etching depends on how long the plate is exposed to the acid. In some areas the lines are thicker, in others fine and wispy. In a world increasingly dominated by industrial production, etching offered a way for artists to create multiple originals, blurring the lines between handmade and mass-produced. But it was also a laborious process, requiring skill and patience to create the image. By focusing on the materials and methods of production, we can understand how *Omhelzend paar* participates in broader cultural conversations around labor, value, and the changing nature of art in the age of industrialization.