Lauffenbourg 1863

John Ruskin made this etching of Lauffenbourg using a metal plate, acid, and ink. Rather than the traditional methods of oil paint, the graphic qualities of etching allowed Ruskin to capture the architectural details and topography of this Swiss town. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the textures of the built environment. Note the hatching and cross-hatching, which gives volume to the buildings, while the ink pools in areas to create dark shadows. The final print is not just an image but also a record of Ruskin’s labor, his repeated actions of scoring lines into the metal. Ruskin was famously concerned with the social implications of making. He felt that industrial production had alienated workers from their creative potential, and here with this etching, he offers a vision of craft as a means to both record and resist the effects of industrialization. This work blurs the lines between observation, handcraft, and social commentary.