Kerk te Laren 1886

Jan Veth made this print of the Kerk te Laren using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines in a metal plate. Here, the qualities of the etching process are clearly on display. Veth would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then scratched an image into this coating with a needle. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating incised lines. The plate is inked, and then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The velvety blacks are typical of this medium. What is interesting here is that the technique is so closely associated with precision and detail, but Veth has used it to evoke a near-dream state. It is a testament to his mastery that he could achieve such an atmospheric effect with industrial means. In this way, Veth collapses the distinction between high art and the world of commercial reproduction.