Toneelvoorstelling in een zaal, 1714 1714

This print, “Toneelvoorstelling in een zaal,” was made in 1714 by an anonymous artist using etching, a printmaking technique involving acid. The print shows a theatre performance, complete with actors, set design, and an audience. The etcher would have used a sharp needle to draw an image on a metal plate covered in wax. Then the plate was submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The plate was then inked, and pressed onto paper. The resulting print captures the fine lines and intricate details of the original drawing. The technique allowed for distribution of imagery and ideas, in this case, the cultural activity of theatre. The print invites us to consider the social context of 18th-century entertainment, the role of theatre in society, and the skilled labor involved in both the performance and its reproduction. It’s easy to underestimate printmaking, but a closer consideration reveals the amount of work involved in the production process.