Landschap met boerderij en schuur 1897

Auguste Danse created this etching, titled "Landschap met boerderij en schuur," meaning Landscape with Farmhouse and Barn, in the 19th century. The printing process hinges on the relationship between the copper plate, acid, and paper. Lines are incised into the metal plate, which is then submerged in acid. The longer it remains, the deeper the lines are etched, allowing them to hold more ink. The image is then transferred onto paper through intense pressure. Notice the density of marks. Danse uses a network of fine lines to evoke the textures of aged wood, foliage, and the overcast sky. It’s no accident that printmaking rose to prominence alongside capitalism. Its capacity for reproduction made images accessible and affordable, and the division of labor inherent in the process mirrors industrial production. Here, Danse uses etching to highlight the quiet dignity of rural life. By understanding its making, we come closer to the meeting of labor, craft, and fine art that etching embodies.