Huis van de magiër 1880

Luigi Conconi made this etching, 'House of the Magician', using metal plate and acid to create this shadowy scene. Etching is an indirect process; the artist doesn't directly incise the image. Instead, a waxy coating is applied to the plate, through which the design is scratched. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed metal is eaten away, leaving behind lines that will hold ink. The printmaker’s skill comes in controlling the depth of the lines, and therefore the tonality of the image. Here, the effect is dark and mysterious, the composition a network of scaffolding, clay vessels, and architectural elements. The built environment is front and center. The heavy use of shadow may allude to industrialization and the rise of the working class. The print's appeal lies in Conconi's mastery of a laborious process to capture a fleeting, evocative atmosphere. It reminds us that every artwork is the result of specific techniques, revealing the hand of the maker.