Pijprokende oude man met hoed 1888

Jos Ratinckx created this small print, *Pijprokende oude man met hoed*, using etching. This printmaking technique involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and used to create multiple impressions. The artist likely used a needle to draw through a waxy, acid-resistant ground applied to the plate. The lines of the drawing thus exposed the metal, allowing the acid to bite into it. The varying depths and thicknesses of the etched lines give the image its tonal range and texture. We can imagine the artist carefully controlling the amount of time the plate spent in the acid bath, a process that demanded technical skill. The image itself, of a pipe-smoking old man, evokes a sense of working-class life. In a world before photography, etching was a relatively accessible medium for creating and distributing images. Ratinckx’s choice of subject matter and his skilled manipulation of the etching process, invites us to appreciate the artistry in everyday life, and the labor involved in both its representation and creation.