Sausalito 1938

Julius John Pommer created this print of Sausalito using etching, a printmaking process with a long history. Here, we see Pommer's image built up through careful, precise lines, a testament to the labor-intensive etching process, in which a metal plate is coated with wax, the design scratched into it, and then acid is applied to bite the exposed lines. The plate is then inked and printed. Look closely at the details – the trees, houses, and the distant view – each meticulously rendered, reflecting the physical effort involved. Pommer's choice of etching is significant. Unlike painting or sculpture, printmaking has always had a relationship to industry, allowing for the production of multiple images. In this sense, it is more closely aligned with the world of design and craft. Considering the labor and materials, we can appreciate Pommer's work not just as a picture, but as a cultural object deeply embedded in histories of making. This challenges us to think beyond traditional notions of fine art, and to value the skill and effort invested in every print.