Born in Wiesbaden, Seiler studied at Berlin and Munich, where he subsequently taught. This costume piece in 18th-century dress recalls Meissonier's ‘Etcher’ exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1865. Holding a clay pipe in one hand, the etcher is drawing with a stylus on a waxed copper plate. The illuminated screen provides even, diffused lighting, and bottles of etching acid stand at the left. https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-etcher-160374#