Unklug (Unwise) 1797

This print, *Unklug (Unwise)*, was made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki sometime in the late 18th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using acid to bite the lines. The plate would then have been inked and printed onto paper. Look closely and you will notice the fine detail, achieved through the skilled labor of the printmaker. Chodowiecki would have used tools such as burins and needles to create the design, revealing the artist's skillful manipulation of the materials to create areas of light and shadow. The process would require patience, precision, and a deep understanding of the materials. Etchings like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, and became popular as a way of circulating images and ideas widely. In a sense, prints democratized art, making it accessible to a broader public than paintings, for example. When you consider this, the images become a testament to the relationship between artistic expression, skilled labor, and the rise of a more consumer-oriented society.