Ciseleur aan het werk in een werkplaats 1875 - 1913

Charles Mertens made this etching of a metal worker’s shop sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The process of etching involves drawing an image into a prepared ground on a metal plate, immersing it in acid, and then using the incised lines to hold ink for printing. What's striking here is how Mertens uses the medium to evoke the atmosphere of labor. See how he deploys the etched line to create textures and a tonal range, bringing out the contrast between the pools of light and the enveloping darkness. The subject is a craftsman, hunched over his work, surrounded by the tools of his trade. The etching medium itself requires a similar dedication: the careful application of skill to coax an image from base materials. Consider this print a tribute to the unsung labor that underlies all making, from the artisan in his workshop to the artist at the printing press. It's a testament to the value of process and the intimate connection between maker and material.