Twee figuren in een interieur 1834 - 1878

Jozef Israëls made this print, Twee figuren in een interieur, using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. The image is made by covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, into which the artist scratches their design. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating incised lines. The plate is inked, the surface wiped clean, and then pressed onto paper, transferring the ink from the etched lines to create the print. Look closely, and you’ll see the expressive texture Israëls has achieved. By varying the pressure and angle of the etching needle, he has created lines of varying width and depth, giving the image a painterly quality. The composition and subject matter also remind us of painting – the domestic interior, the woman sewing, the figure resting in bed – all rendered with a sensitivity and attention to detail. This print exemplifies how techniques usually associated with craft can achieve effects comparable to those of fine art.