Jonge arbeider op klompen, met een schort voor 1876

Auguste Danse created this etching of a young worker in 1876. Look closely, and you'll notice the marks of labor are etched into every line. Danse made this print using a process that involved covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawing through it with a sharp needle to expose the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. The whole plate would be inked then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and then it would be pressed onto paper. Consider the amount of work involved in each impression, and also the labor of the boy depicted, likely from a working-class background. From his clogs to his apron, every detail speaks to his socio-economic context. Danse elevates the everyday, transforming the image of a working-class youth into a work of art, prompting us to consider the value and dignity of labor. This piece challenges traditional notions of what constitutes art, highlighting the beauty and significance found in the lives of ordinary people.