Gezicht op het Spaarne bij Haarlem 1851 - 1924

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this print of the Spaarne at Haarlem using etching, a printmaking technique with a rich history. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched an image into it with a special needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Once the resist was removed, ink was applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface was wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. What's fascinating here is how this labor-intensive method results in an image that feels immediate and light. Etching allows for finely detailed lines, capturing the subtle textures of the water, sky, and the distant landscape. The social context of this work is important, too. Printmaking made art more accessible to a wider audience, connecting the artist’s vision to the everyday lives of people who might never have entered a gallery. It prompts us to reflect on the value we place on art, and the labor that goes into its creation.