Interieur met twee koppels etende aan een tafel 1743 - 1811

Jakob Matthias Schmutzer created this etching, "Interior with two couples eating at a table," using metal plates and acid. He would have coated the plate with wax, scratched away lines to create the image, and then dipped the plate in acid to bite the exposed metal. Look closely at the details Schmutzer captured. Notice the rendering of light and shadow, achieved through precise lines and cross-hatching. It is a labor-intensive process, demanding technical skill and patience. Yet, printmaking at this time was crucial to disseminating images widely. This was image-making in the service of a growing consumer culture. The scene depicts a domestic interior with figures eating and drinking. Everyday objects are visible, like the earthenware jug on the floor. Schmutzer's etching elevates a common scene into art, reflecting a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people. By focusing on these subjects, Schmutzer blurred the line between high art and the everyday, inviting viewers to appreciate the artistry inherent in the craft itself.