Luitspeler 1852 - 1898

Leopold Löwenstam created this artwork, called 'Luitspeler', using the etching technique known as aquaforte. This intaglio printmaking process involves using acid to create lines in a metal plate, which are then inked and transferred to paper. Löwenstam's aquaforte print captures the texture of the lute player's fabrics, such as his ornate sleeve, and the smooth surface of the lute, revealing a keen understanding of the materials he depicts, as well as the printmaking process. The labor-intensive process of creating aquaforte prints meant they were often more accessible than paintings, yet they still required specialist knowledge to produce. The very nature of printmaking, with its potential for multiples, democratizes the image. Instead of a unique painting, this aquaforte could be distributed, entering into circulation. Considering this work through its materiality and production, we can see it as an object of both artistic skill and social exchange, bridging the gap between fine art and the wider world of craft and commerce.