Deel van de grote weg bij de dessa Cakranegara (Tjakranegara) op Lombok Possibly 1911

This print of a road in Lombok was made by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp, and is rendered in etching, a classic intaglio process. The image begins with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, its surface coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the drawn lines are bitten, creating grooves. Ink is then forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you can see the intricate texture achieved through this method, each tiny line contributing to the whole. This technique allowed Nieuwenkamp to capture the light and atmosphere of the Indonesian landscape, a place then under Dutch colonial rule. Etching, with its capacity for fine detail, became a favorite method for artists documenting the world around them, often reflecting complex social dynamics. In this case, the road itself speaks to the transformation of the landscape, the movement of people and resources, and the labor involved in building and maintaining such infrastructure. The artist brings all these elements together, challenging the divide between art and social reality.