Smidsjongen 1882

This is Smidsjongen, made in 1882 by Auguste Danse. The image is rendered with etching, a printmaking technique that brings a quality all of its own. Here, you can see an image of a young metal worker, or blacksmith's apprentice. The very nature of this print emphasizes the way that images can be reproduced, disseminated, and shared. The lines created through etching capture the textures of the worker's clothes, the tools of his trade, and his direct gaze. Etching is a chemical process and, like metalwork, requires skill and precision. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, draws into it with a sharp needle, and then immerses the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then printed onto paper, transferring the image. The artist is reminding us that artistic skill and craftsmanship is present not just in the fine arts, but in the everyday world of labor, politics, and industry.