The Old Toll House at Bridgeport (Small plate) 1888 - 1889

John Henry Twachtman made this etching, "The Old Toll House at Bridgeport," using a metal plate and strong acid. The fine lines you see were achieved by drawing into a waxy, acid-resistant ground, laid on the copper plate. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit away the exposed lines. After removing the ground, Twachtman would have then inked the plate, carefully wiping the surface to leave ink only in the etched lines. Finally, he would have pressed the plate onto paper, transferring the image. Notice the stark tonal contrast, typical of the etching process. The acid selectively etches lines of varying depths, allowing for a range of dark and light. Through his skilled manipulation of the materials, Twachtman captured not just a scene, but a feeling. Considering the labor invested in this print, it invites us to reflect on the value we assign to art, and the skilled hand that brings it to life.