Antique Mirror 1923 - 1924

Arthur Bowen Davies made this print, *Antique Mirror,* using a color etching technique. Here, the process is as important as the image. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then drawing an image into that coating, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Color etching adds further complexity, requiring multiple plates to be aligned and printed in sequence. Look closely at the image. You can see the texture of the paper, the soft blurring of the colors, and the delicate lines that define the figure. These qualities are all products of the etching process. It’s a labor-intensive, highly skilled process, quite different from painting or drawing. Davies embraced printmaking at a time when it was gaining recognition as a fine art medium, just as valid as painting or sculpture. By emphasizing process and materiality, Davies challenged traditional hierarchies within the art world, inviting us to appreciate the artistry inherent in craft.