Landschap met bewolkte lucht en rookpluim 1868 - 1912

This landscape with cloudy sky and plume of smoke was made by Maria van Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a Countess of Flanders, using etching. The process begins with a metal plate, traditionally copper or zinc. A waxy ground is applied, and the artist draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. What's fascinating here is how the technique itself lends a particular atmosphere to the scene. The etched lines create a sense of depth and texture, mimicking the dramatic sky and the distant smoke. The image evokes the power of nature, while also hinting at the industrial activities that were reshaping the landscape at the time, subtly merging traditional art practices with the realities of a rapidly changing world.