Man aan de eettafel c. 1748 - 1795

Jan Chalon made this etching, Man aan de eettafel, in the late 18th century. Look closely, and you’ll see that the entire image is made up of tiny, scratched lines. These lines aren’t drawn directly onto the paper, though. Instead, Chalon would have used a sharp needle to cut through a waxy coating on a metal plate, exposing the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. This process allowed for the fine details and textures we see here, from the plume in the man’s hat to the shadows on his face. Once the plate was cleaned and inked, it could be used to make multiple prints. Think of the labor involved, not only in depicting the scene, but also in preparing the plate for printing. In a time before mechanical reproduction, skills like Chalon’s were essential for disseminating images and ideas, making etching a powerful tool of social commentary and satire.