Jacques Saly (?), pl. VI from "Recueil de caricatures" 1749 - 1759

Ange-Laurent de La Live de Jully created this print, Jacques Saly (?), sometime in the 18th century. It's made using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to cut into a metal plate. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist would have drawn into a waxy ground, exposing the metal, which was then bitten by the acid. The depth of the lines varies, creating tone and shadow. This was not necessarily a solitary process; workshops would often divide the labor. Some artisans were responsible for preparing the plates, others for the etching itself, and still others for the printing. The resulting image is a caricature, a satirical rendering of a person. Note how the technique, with its emphasis on line and detail, allows for the exaggeration of features and the capture of a likeness. It is a process that democratized image-making in its time, allowing for the wide dissemination of images and ideas. Ultimately, this print reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex social and technical processes. It challenges our conventional ideas about art and labor.