Zonsondergang op de Theems 1865

Sir Francis Seymour Haden made this print of a sunset on the Thames. He used a technique called etching, where lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, then inked and printed. It’s an indirect process, almost alchemical. The network of lines creates a scene of great atmosphere, with light radiating across the sky. The city on the horizon, the masts of the boats – all are evoked with just enough detail to give us a sense of place. It is tempting to think about this print as a commentary on the industrial revolution, with the boats alluding to the movement of goods. Yet, the etching itself has a story to tell. It is a mark of human skill, but also of the growing accessibility of printmaking as a medium. We can consider it alongside other forms of mass production and consumption. This reminds us that the techniques of making are always tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. And that there's as much labor and skill involved here as in any painting, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.