Smid met blaasbalg 1848

Charles Jacque created this etching titled "Smid met blaasbalg," depicting a blacksmith and his apprentice hard at work. The artist would have used a metal plate, coated with an acid-resistant ground, to create this print. Lines are drawn into the ground, and then acid etches the exposed metal, leaving behind grooves that hold ink. The final print captures the intensity of labor. The blacksmith, caught in profile, is the picture of concentration as he works the bellows to stoke the fire. The scene reminds us of the intimate relationship between humans and materials. The process of heating and hammering metal to shape tools or weapons or domestic wares is physically demanding. This image prompts us to consider the value of skilled work. Jacque’s etching treats this scene with reverence and respect, elevating the status of craft and manual labor within the artistic realm. It challenges the traditional hierarchy that separates art from craft, inviting us to see the artistry in the everyday.