Russian Peasant 

Elias Grossman created this image of a Russian Peasant using etching, a printmaking technique that requires considerable skill. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then draws the image, removing the coating and exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Dampened paper is then pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The resulting image has a distinctive character, with fine lines and subtle tonal variations, which you can see here. The image conveys the hard labor and difficult conditions that were typical of rural life in Russia. Grossman’s choice of printmaking, a medium that allows for the production of multiple copies, suggests an intention to disseminate this image widely, perhaps as a statement about social conditions. This brings us closer to understanding the work, challenging distinctions between fine art and social commentary.