Kerkinterieur met oude man 1891 - 1896

Alexander Bleijs created this print, "Kerkinterieur met oude man," using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. In etching, the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. They then scratch an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. The remaining ground is removed, and the plate is inked. The ink is then transferred to paper under pressure, resulting in a print. Bleijs's choice of etching allows for intricate detail and tonal variation, evident in the architecture and the figure of the old man, and the method democratizes the artmaking process. Looking at the web of lines making up the scene, we gain insight into the artist's vision and the world around him, and how materials and process contribute to the work's overall impact. In the end, craft and fine art can be appreciated side by side.