Wijnoogst 1877

Léon Augustin Lhermitte made this print, titled "Wijnoogst", using a technique called etching. The beauty of an etching lies in the way it’s made. First, a metal plate is coated with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal underneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves then hold ink, which is transferred to paper under immense pressure, resulting in the final print. Notice the density of lines creating depth and shadow, achieved through careful work with acid and metal. This technique, rooted in craft and skill, captures a scene of labor and community. The image is therefore a direct record of physical work – both the work of the harvesters depicted, and the artist himself. Understanding the etching process allows us to appreciate not only the image, but also the labor and skill embedded within it. It challenges our understanding of art by connecting it to wider social issues of labor, and the traditions of craft.