Boot voor een stenen brug 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching, ‘Boot voor een stenen brug,’ using metal and acid. Etching is a printmaking technique that allows for detailed and textured images. Schaepkens likely coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drew his design, then submerged the plate in acid. The acid would bite into the metal where the drawing exposed it, creating recessed lines. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure, creating the print. The distinct textures and tones you see are a result of the acid's varying depths, and the artist's skill in controlling this process. While etching can be a relatively reproducible process, the amount of labor involved speaks to a tradition of craft and artistry that transcends mere industrial production. Every print pulled from the plate bears the mark of this intensive, hands-on process. This artwork invites us to consider the relationship between mechanization, labor, and creative expression in the 19th century, challenging assumptions about the division between art and craft.