Rungsted 1881

This etching, "Rungsted," was made by Louise Ravn-Hansen in 1881, using a copper plate and acid. The artist would have painstakingly drawn through a protective coating, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite away the lines, allowing for multiple prints to be made. But the real story here is the way that the artist’s labor is reflected. The soft, hazy atmosphere and thatched roofs, have a clear social significance, referencing the lives of rural people. Look closely, and you can see just how much work was required to create this seemingly simple image. The artist’s hand is present in every single etched line. It’s easy to overlook the sheer skill that went into this image. Yet that’s exactly what Ravn-Hansen asks us to consider: the inherent value of craft, in intimate dialogue with the world around her.