Raderinger til spillekort, knægte 1811 - 1864

Sophus Schack created this print of playing card jacks sometime in the 19th century, using a process called etching. Here, we see the figures rendered in closely worked lines, creating an impression of tonal depth. The way etching works is to create an image in acid, on a metal plate. This allows for the creation of many identical images. The impression of delicacy comes from Schack’s skilled hand, guiding the etching tool. Playing cards, of course, were luxury items long before Schack’s time. But with the advent of printmaking, they became much more readily available. What had been the preserve of the aristocracy was opened up to the emerging middle class. This etching speaks to the way that new technologies of reproduction democratized culture, bringing it into everyday life. It blurs the line between craft and industrial production, making art accessible to broader audiences.