Sources of the Sacramento c. 19th century

Julian Walbridge Rix made this print, “Sources of the Sacramento”, using etching, a process that’s all about controlled corrosion. Rix would have coated a metal plate, likely copper, with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Then, using a sharp needle, he scratched away the ground to expose the metal beneath, making marks that would later hold ink. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer it sat, the deeper and darker those lines would be in the final print. Once Rix was satisfied with the etched lines, he cleaned off the ground and applied ink to the plate, carefully wiping away any excess from the surface, leaving ink only in the etched grooves. Finally, he pressed the plate onto a sheet of paper, transferring the inked image and creating the print you see. Think about the labor involved in the production of this print. It's a reminder that even seemingly effortless images are the result of skilled handwork and technical knowledge.