Romantisch koppel edellieden met een hond 1897

This etching, "Romantisch koppel edellieden met een hond," was made by Auguste Danse in 1858. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique, where a metal plate, often copper or zinc, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then draws an image into the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate is immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. After removing the ground, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the image. The resulting print displays fine lines and delicate tonal variations. The print is a multiple, of course, so we should also consider the labor of the printer, who would have needed to produce many impressions. Danse’s choice of etching allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of imagery for a growing middle class, feeding a seemingly insatiable appetite for art that persists to this day.