Aangemeerde roeiboot met een overkapping 1908

Cornelis Vreedenburgh created this etching of a moored rowboat with a canopy. The printmaking process allows for a remarkable level of detail. See how the etched lines vary in depth and density to create textures. The rough wood of the boat contrasts with the smoother reflections in the water. A dense thicket of etched lines behind the boat adds visual weight to the composition. The etching process itself is labor intensive: the artist applies a waxy ground to a metal plate, then draws through it with a needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites away the exposed lines. The longer the plate is etched, the deeper and darker the lines will be in the final print. This combination of skill and labour gives the image a sense of depth, realism and quiet reflection. Paying attention to materials and processes can bring us closer to the artist's intention, blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft.