Karikatuur van een Spaanse man met een lakei 1635

This caricature of a Spanish man with a lackey was etched by Abraham Bosse sometime in the 17th century. The printmaking process, specifically etching, is crucial to understanding the artwork. Bosse would have used a metal plate, coated with wax, then scratched an image into the wax with a fine needle, exposing the metal beneath. Acid was then applied, biting into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. The plate was cleaned, inked, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The intricate details of the man's clothing, hat, and the lackey's features are all products of the labor-intensive etching process. The choice of printmaking as a medium suggests accessibility, allowing for the mass production and distribution of images, and reflecting the growth of consumer culture. This contrasts with unique artworks, like paintings, and indicates a shift towards wider engagement with visual satire. The image itself is therefore tied to evolving social dynamics and political commentary of the time.