Spotprent op de erkenning van de republiek Spanje, 1874 1874

This political print was made in 1874 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, using a technique called etching. Etching begins with a metal plate, usually copper or zinc, covered with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The relatively low cost and ease of production meant that etched prints like this could be widely distributed, effectively disseminating political commentary and satire. The crisp, graphic quality of the etched lines lends itself well to caricature and pointed wit, as you can see in the exaggerated features of the figures and the pointed caption below. In this way, the print connects artistic skill with public opinion, blurring the lines between art, journalism, and political activism.