Licurgus verwond door Alcander tijdens oproer 1760 - 1776

This print, *Licurgus verwond door Alcander tijdens oproer*, was created by Gilles Demarteau using the technique of etching, a printmaking process that allows for the creation of intricate line work. In etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, into which the artist scratches their design. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. This plate is then inked, and the ink held in the etched lines is transferred to paper under pressure. The fine quality of line created through this process is perfect for the depiction of grand narratives like this one. The appeal of etching lay in its relative ease, compared to engraving, and this meant that images could be more widely disseminated to a growing public eager for both knowledge and entertainment. The ability to reproduce images on a mass scale democratized access to art and ideas, and made printmakers like Demarteau crucial players in the broader landscape of 18th-century visual culture.