Portret van kunstenaar Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch

This is Bernardus Johannes Blommers's portrait of artist Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch, made using etching. The image is defined by the incised lines, a result of the artist drawing into a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then submerged in acid. This is a printmaking technique that lies in a fascinating territory between the unique gesture of drawing and the repeatable nature of industrial production. Looking closely, you can see the characteristic 'bite' of the acid, and imagine the artist carefully controlling the depth and character of each line. The resulting image has a directness and immediacy, but don’t forget this was a laborious process. In its time, etching was a modern, progressive medium, and the democratic potential of printmaking allowed for wider audiences, challenging traditional notions of art as unique, precious objects.