Kurd Christoph von Schwerin wordt stervend gekroond door de godin van de zege c. 1765

Christian Bernhard Rode created this print, "Kurd Christoph von Schwerin wordt stervend gekroond door de godin van de zege," employing etching, a printmaking technique dependent on acid and laborious application. The image shows a dying Kurd Christoph von Schwerin being crowned with a laurel wreath. The success of etching lies in the artist's capacity to control tonal variation, and the fineness of the drawn line. The tools of this trade are etching needles, mordants (acids) and the press. This print asked for a deep understanding of metallurgy and chemistry on Rode's part. Prints like this were luxury goods, destined for albums and collections. The level of skill and artistry required placed them far outside the reach of ordinary people. This underscores an important point: that even seemingly reproducible images are the product of considerable expertise and effort. It challenges the way we think about the division of art and craft.