Mountain Stream 

Robert Hogg Nisbet made this Mountain Stream print using etching, a traditional printmaking technique. The process begins with a copper plate, coated with a waxy ground. Nisbet would have drawn his image into this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate and paper are run through a press, transferring the ink and creating the print. Look closely and you’ll see the etched lines building up the image. This way of working allowed for a high degree of detail, capturing the textures of the rocks and the movement of the water. It’s a labor-intensive process, demanding both artistic skill and technical knowledge. Yet the result is a multiple, which democratizes access to art, aligning it with wider issues of labor and consumption. When we understand the processes, and the immense amount of work involved, we appreciate how printmaking contributes to artistic expression and social commentary.