Lezende man met hoed 1792 - 1802

This is 'Lezende man met hoed' (Reading Man with Hat), an etching made by Jan Chalon in the late eighteenth century. The image is made through a labor-intensive, indirect printmaking process. Chalon would have coated a metal plate with wax, then scratched the design into it with a needle. After immersing the plate in acid, he would remove the wax and ink the plate, before finally printing it onto paper. Notice how the density of lines creates areas of tone, like the heavy strokes of the man's hat and coat, which contrast with the sparsely-etched background. While seemingly simple, the etching process carries social significance. Printmaking democratized artmaking in the 1700s, allowing images to be widely disseminated and consumed. This made art more accessible, and supported a growing creative class. With this print, Chalon engaged with the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, challenging the traditional distinction between craft and fine art.