Desseins a Plusieurs Usages Inventés par M. B. Toro 1718

This print, "Desseins a Plusieurs Usages Inventés par M. B. Toro," was etched by Jean Bernard Toro sometime in the early 18th century. Rather than paint, or even drawing, Toro used a metal plate, acid, and a fine tool called a burin. The image shows an elaborate stage design, complete with statuary, columns, and draped fabric. Consider the labor involved. Etching is an indirect process. The artist doesn't directly cut the lines we see, but instead prepares the metal and then uses acid to do the work of marking. Though aided by chemistry, the labor is still intensive, requiring considerable skill. This print is not just an image but a record of a process. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the burin, the subtle variations in line weight and texture that give the print its unique character. The image gives us not only a design but a document of a highly skilled craftsperson at work. It reminds us that all images, no matter how seemingly effortless, are the product of human labor and ingenuity.