Man zittend voor schildersezel 1875

Louis Monziès made this print of an artist at his easel sometime in the 19th century. It’s made by etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, and then filled with ink to make multiple impressions. The etching process is a fascinating dance between control and chance, and the final quality of the print depends on the artist's skill in manipulating the materials and techniques involved. The fine lines and delicate shading seen here suggest a high level of technical expertise on the part of Monziès. There’s a clear social commentary here. This may be a self-portrait, but Monziès presents himself in ragged clothing, looking less than triumphant. The print participates in the romantic cliché of the artist as a suffering figure, alienated from the world of ordinary labor. Yet, the very act of making an etching – a repeatable image, capable of wide distribution – hints at a different economic reality, one foot in craft, one foot in industrial production.