Montelbaanstoren, Amsterdam Possibly 1911 - 1918

This print of the Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam was created by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp using etching techniques. The image comes to us through the skilled labor of a printmaker. Etching is an indirect process that involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under pressure. Nieuwenkamp masterfully guides our eye with this technique. The resulting image, captured here, depends entirely on the division of labor and expert manipulation of materials. Appreciating the nuances of the final result requires us to look closely at the artistry and the etching process that made it possible.