Bacchanale with Children and Donkey 

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux made this etching, Bacchanale with Children and Donkey, using metal plate and acid. The image is created by incising lines into the metal, which then hold ink. The acid acts as a mordant, biting into the metal to create these recessed lines. This process allows for fine detail and intricate cross-hatching, which you can see in the rendering of the figures' bodies. The quality of the lines - some crisp and dark, others light and broken - gives a sense of dynamism and movement to the bacchanal scene. Consider the labor involved in preparing the plate, applying the acid, and then printing the image. Etchings like this one were often made in multiples, which allowed for the wider distribution of images during Carpeaux's time. The printmaking method allowed Carpeaux to disseminate his artistic vision to a broader audience. The multiple labor processes are important to consider, as they blur the lines between fine art and craft.