Et skovparti 1788 - 1860

Søren Henrik Petersen made this landscape, titled “Et skovparti,” using engraving, a printmaking process, in which the artist carefully incises lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The material qualities of the metal plate influence the final image. The artist’s skill in manipulating the burin, the engraving tool, dictates the depth and width of the lines, creating tonal variations and textures. Look closely, and you'll see how Petersen used a dense network of fine lines to create the illusion of depth, light, and shadow in the water and foliage. Engraving demands precision and control, requiring specialized knowledge and physical labor. The technique has a long history, linked to the rise of print culture and the dissemination of images. Before photography, engravings played a crucial role in circulating visual information. By emphasizing process and materiality, we recognize that this print is not just a picture, but also the result of skilled work.