The Engraver and the Etcher 1643

Editor: Abraham Bosse’s “The Engraver and the Etcher,” created in 1643, is a fascinating print. It’s rendered in etching and drawing on paper. The composition shows two figures working diligently, but there is such interesting subject matter depicted inside of what seems to be the artists’ workshop. What can we glean about this image from its depiction of materials and labour? Curator: That's a keen observation. Notice how Bosse meticulously portrays the tools and processes of both the engraver and the etcher. This isn't just about depicting a scene, but about highlighting the specific skills and the physical labor involved in printmaking. The materials, the burin, the etching needle, the acid, are all integral to the creation of the artwork. How do you think this focus on process would have been received by Bosse’s audience? Editor: I would guess, considering the time, the focus on materials and labor might have democratized the understanding of art production. It reveals the ‘how’ behind the image. It feels… accessible in that sense. Curator: Precisely! Bosse challenges the perception of art as solely intellectual pursuit by showing it as skilled craft. And the inclusion of the workshop with all the stages in the creative process as subject matter serves to blur those strict, traditional lines separating “fine art” and “craft,” It also raises questions about how artistic labor was valued, both socially and economically. Do you think he champions or critiques it through his work? Editor: That's a good question! It almost feels like he's celebrating both skill and output of labor here by immortalizing both, and he’s creating it through them as well. It seems Bosse elevated those considered “craftsmen.” I never looked at this image in this light before. Curator: Indeed, thinking about the context and materiality encourages us to rethink artistic hierarchy of the time.