Udkant af en skov 1845

Vilhelm Kyhn made this print, "Edge of a Forest," using a chemical printing process called chemitype. It's a fascinating technique, one that sits at the intersection of art, science, and craft. Chemitype involves creating an image on a metal plate through chemical etching, similar to other printmaking methods, but perhaps with a more direct translation from drawing to the plate. Look closely, and you can see how the lines have a slightly raised quality, catching the light. The technique allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Consider the labor involved. While chemitype streamlined the printing process, it still required a skilled hand to prepare the plate and operate the press. Kyhn's choice of this method speaks to a desire to democratize art, moving away from unique, hand-painted works towards more widely available prints. It invites us to think about how art circulates, and who gets to own it.