Germanicus op zijn sterfbed 1736 - 1775

This print, “Germanicus on his Deathbed,” was made by Jan Caspar Philips in the 1700s, using the technique of etching. With etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ‘ground.’ The artist then scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, this etches lines into the metal where it is exposed. The plate is then inked and printed. The etched line is not as direct and spontaneous as a drawing. It requires planning and consideration of the effects of acid on metal. It is suited to the kind of formal, staged subject matter we see here. The controlled lines contribute to the scene's seriousness, even its theatricality. The printmaking process, like the military discipline depicted, is one of painstaking, controlled labor. Appreciating the relationship between technique and subject allows us to grasp the full meaning of this image.