Duinlandschap 1880 - 1984

This landscape was etched by Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande, using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, and strong acids. The etcher protects selected parts of the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then immerses the plate in acid. The acid bites into the metal, creating recessed lines. It’s an indirect process; the artist doesn’t directly inscribe the image, but rather coaxes it into being through chemistry. The varying depths and densities of line we see here, from the foreground grasses to the distant hills, indicate the artist’s control over this alchemical process. He likely employed multiple bitings, protecting areas already etched to achieve different tonal values. The printmaking process is labor intensive, requiring technical skill and patience. This contrasts with the ease of viewing the image, prompting us to consider the labor involved in its creation. This etching invites us to appreciate the convergence of technique, material, and artistic vision.