Binnenplaats met trap 1851

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet made this etching, Binnenplaats met trap, using metal and acid. The sharp, precise lines capture the rough texture of a courtyard. Etching demands a specific sequence of actions. The artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratches an image into the coating, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid bites away the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves. Finally, the surface is wiped clean, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure, in a printing press. This indirect process allows Cornet to achieve a remarkable level of detail, evoking the intimate atmosphere of the courtyard and the effects of light and shadow on its worn surfaces. The labor-intensive process of etching mirrors the slow accumulation of history within the courtyard itself. Appreciating the craft of etching invites us to consider the time and effort embedded within the image. It makes you wonder about the social worlds and the labor that built this space.