Bloemen in vliegervorm 1755 - 1775

This print, "Flowers in the shape of a kite," was etched by Johann Heinrich Hess. The etcher's art lies in the controlled degradation of a metal plate. A waxy ground is applied, then scratched away to expose the metal. Acid bites into these lines, creating grooves that hold ink. It’s a printmaking process that lies between drawing and industrial reproduction, allowing for multiples but also valuing the hand of the artist. Notice how Hess has used line to describe not only the forms of the flowers and branches, but also to create tonal effects. Where the artist wanted shadows, the lines are more dense and cross-hatched. This demonstrates a remarkable control of the medium. In its time, this print would have been valued as both a work of art and a means of disseminating visual information widely. This piece demonstrates that the value of an artwork is not just in its subject, but also in the skill and labor embedded in its making.