Loopplank aan de oever, daarachter twee zeilboten 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this etching, "Loopplank aan de oever, daarachter twee zeilboten," using metal, acid, and ink. Tholen's choice of etching is significant. It’s an indirect process, requiring careful application of acid to bite into the metal plate. This contrasts with the directness of drawing or painting, and aligns with the precision associated with industrial production. The fine lines, created through controlled corrosion, capture the delicate reflections on the water and the intricate details of the wooden plank. Think about the labor involved in this process, from preparing the plate to carefully inking and printing. The act of etching, with its reliance on controlled chemical reactions, speaks to a world increasingly shaped by technology and industry. This work invites us to appreciate the skill involved in translating a scene into a reproducible image, challenging the traditional hierarchy between craft and fine art.