Justice S.G. 

Elias Grossman created this portrait of Justice S.G. using etching, a printmaking process with a long history. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are bitten, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. The resulting print has a distinctive, somewhat delicate quality, perfectly suited to the portrayal of Justice S.G.. The technique allows for fine lines and subtle gradations of tone. The material process used, requiring meticulous handwork and careful control, contrasts sharply with the mass production, echoing the meticulous application of law and order within society. Understanding the printmaking process allows us to appreciate the skill involved in achieving this likeness. It challenges the hierarchy between art and craft, revealing the deep connections between artistic creation and skilled labor.