Kelder met drinkende man 1893

This is "Kelder met drinkende man" (Cellar with drinking man), an etching made by Romain Looymans. The physical character of the print is essential to its meaning. Etching is an indirect process. Looymans would have coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawn through it with a needle to expose the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the lines. This painstaking process is visible in the final print, every tiny mark evidence of Looymans' labor. The subject matter reinforces this theme of labor. It depicts a man pausing for a drink, presumably after working hard. The setting, a dimly lit cellar, suggests a humble environment. The use of etching, with its inherent emphasis on process and mark-making, draws our attention to the man's physical presence. It emphasizes the human touch in both the making of the artwork, and the toil of daily life. By focusing on the way this print was made, we can better appreciate its commentary on work and the working class. Looymans elevates the everyday, reminding us of the value in the laboring body.