Storm i Nordsøen. Arcturus får lods 1885

Carl Locher made this print, Storm in the North Sea, using etching – a process involving biting lines into a metal plate with acid, then inking and printing. Here, the etched line takes centre stage. The work has a very direct, almost documentary feel. The stormy sea is captured with a sparse, scratchy method. The choppy waters and stormy sky are rendered using the inherently linear nature of the etching process. The material qualities of the print - its monochrome palette, its stark contrasts - heighten the drama of the scene. It's as though we are there in the turbulent North Sea alongside those sailors. The image also speaks to a wider social context. Maritime trade was essential to the Danish economy. By emphasizing the physicality of the print and the labor involved, we appreciate the depth of the artwork.