Naaktheid van Noach 1804

This print, "Naaktheid van Noach," was made by Damiano Pernati, using the technique of etching. The artist incised lines into a metal plate with a sharp needle, bathed it in acid, and then used it to make impressions like this one. Etching like this was a prime method of image reproduction in Pernati's time. Think of it as the early modern version of digital photography - a means of disseminating images widely and relatively cheaply. But also consider the labor involved: the skilled hand of the etcher, painstakingly drawing in reverse on the plate. It's a process that values precision, detail, and control. And this is quite relevant, because look at the story it tells: Noah, drunk and exposed, and his sons' different reactions. Ham is pointing, while Shem and Japheth cover him with a cloth. There's a tension here between the precision of the technique, and the moral content of the image, which addresses exposure and shame. Ultimately, this print challenges the viewer to consider the labor involved in its production, as well as the story it conveys.