Oerwoud op Java after 1902

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp created this print, "Oerwoud op Java," using the etching process. This intaglio method involves incising lines into a metal plate, inking the plate so that the ink fills the lines, and then transferring the image to paper under high pressure. Here, the artist has created an immersive experience of the Java jungle. See how the qualities inherent in the etching process – the fine lines, the build-up of dark and light, and the textures created by the acid biting into the metal – all contribute to the overall impression. The matrix bears the marks of labor, made through skilled tradition. Beyond the final print, there is also the social context of the artist himself, a traveler who documented the landscapes and cultures he encountered. Looking at this print, we should consider the amount of work involved in the production process, the cultural context in which it was made, and the ways in which it challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.