Loch Aline 1926

David Young Cameron made this print, titled 'Loch Aline', using a technique called etching. It's an indirect process. First, the artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then draws an image through the coating, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. When the plate is inked, the ink settles into these grooves. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Cameron was a master of this painstaking craft. The subtle tonal variations in the print are achieved through careful control of the etching process, where he was able to create a sense of depth and atmosphere, even with minimal lines. This kind of printmaking, while technically complex, allowed artists to create multiple originals, making art more accessible to a wider audience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. So, next time you look at a print, remember the labor and skill involved in its making. It’s a fascinating intersection of craft, technology, and artistic expression.