Staande Turk, ruiters in de achtergrond 1764

This print, "Standing Turk, Riders in the Background," was made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, using etching, a printmaking process with a long and fascinating history. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched an image into that coating with a sharp needle. When the plate was dipped in acid, the exposed lines would be eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves would then hold ink, allowing the image to be printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the characteristic "bite" of the acid, particularly in the darker lines. This etching technique allowed Chodowiecki to create detailed, reproducible images. Etchings like this one were relatively inexpensive to produce and were consumed widely. By focusing on the materiality and the making, we can appreciate the labor involved in creating this artwork. The image gains its full meaning through the convergence of materials, making, and social context, transcending traditional boundaries between art and craft.