Twee zeilschepen langs de kade 1840s

Jacques Van Gingelen made this print, "Twee zeilschepen langs de kade," using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history. Here, a metal plate, likely copper, would have been coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratched an image into the wax, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate was submerged in acid, the exposed lines were eaten away, creating grooves. Ink was then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface was wiped clean. Finally, paper was pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print we see here. The etcher's skill lies in controlling the depth and width of the lines, to capture a view of labor and transport along the quay side. It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the result of considered process. By appreciating how it's made, we deepen our understanding of the image itself.