"Ligelyldighed ved Convoyen i Aaret 1798" 1798

This print, "Ligegyldighed ved Convoyen i Aaret 1798," was made in 1798 by an anonymous artist. The technique used to create this image is etching, a printmaking process with a rich social history. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a 'ground', then scratched away lines with a needle to expose the metal beneath. When the plate was immersed in acid, the exposed lines were 'bitten' into the metal. Ink was then applied to the etched lines, and the plate pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Etching was commonly used for illustrations and disseminating information. The fine lines achievable through etching lend themselves to detailed depictions, and as a printing medium, it allowed for wide distribution of images. The image here is of ships at sea, which would likely have been important to Denmark at that time for military or trade reasons. Considering the meticulous labor involved, the choice of etching underscores how materials and making carry cultural and political weight, expanding our understanding of fine art and its connection to broader social issues.