The Obrero inside the barrel rolled by the mob (Plate ??/52) 1823

Bartolomeo Pinelli made this etching, The Obrero inside the barrel rolled by the mob, in Rome sometime before 1835. The printmaking process itself is crucial to understanding the image. Etching allowed Pinelli to create a scene with sharp lines and intricate details. It's a process that democratizes image-making, allowing for multiples to be made and distributed widely. Here, we see a man trapped inside a barrel, being rolled along by an angry mob. The print medium is well suited to depict social unrest and political commentary, where messages had to be spread quickly. Consider the labor involved both in the scene depicted, and in the making of the print itself. There is the labor of the man being rolled, and that of the crowd enacting this, and then, of course, Pinelli's labor in creating the etching. The contrast between the fine lines of the etching and the violent scene it depicts creates a tension, highlighting the social and political climate of the time. Ultimately, understanding the materials and processes used to create this artwork allows us to appreciate the depth of its meaning and its connection to the wider world.