Store sten i skoven 1887

Sophie Holten made "Store sten i skoven" – or “Large Stones in the Forest” – using etching, a printmaking technique that has craft origins. She created it by applying an acid-resistant coating to a metal plate, then scratching an image into that surface. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. Ink was applied and then the surface was wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, paper was pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Holten’s careful cross-hatching captures the texture and weight of the rocks, and the skeletal trees. Printmaking, traditionally considered a craft, democratized image production. This piece challenges that hierarchy: Holten elevates an everyday scene through meticulous work, using the reproducible medium of etching to explore unique qualities of light and form. By focusing on process and materiality, we can see how Holten blurs boundaries, enriching our understanding of both art and craft.