Aften udenfor en bondegård 1850 - 1899

Edvard Petersen created this print, Aften udenfor en bondegård, using etching, a process that melds artistry and labor. Etching begins with a metal plate coated in a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. This process demands meticulous skill, blending artistic vision with chemical precision. Notice how the etched lines define the scene – the texture of the fields, the details of the trees, and the quiet solitude of the figure and cattle. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, it absorbs the ink, transferring the image. This is repeated for each print, turning art production into a potentially repetitive process, reflective of industrial labor. Petersen's choice of etching connects the artwork to broader social issues of labor, the print trade, and the consumption of images. It challenges the notion of the artist as solely a creator of unique objects, linking art to the world of craft and industry.