Minstreel speelt viool 1825 - 1869

Henri Leys made this etching of a "Minstrel Playing the Violin" sometime in the mid-19th century, using a technique rooted in skilled handcraft. Leys would have started by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. He then used a sharp needle to draw his design, exposing the metal underneath. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves hold the ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you can see the etched lines, and imagine the labor involved in creating each one. The image itself depicts a musician, a figure who makes his living through skilled performance. It reminds us that all cultural production, whether musical or visual, is rooted in human effort and expertise. By focusing on the material and the making, Leys elevates the status of both the artist and the musician, challenging traditional hierarchies that separate art from craft, and high culture from everyday life.