Interieur met kat op tafel en een vrouw die melk inschenkt 1825 - 1863

Guillaume Joseph Vertommen created this print, “Interior with cat on table and a woman pouring milk,” using etching. It’s a chemical process related to engraving. The image is developed by repeatedly covering the plate with a resist, scratching through it to expose the metal, and then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines, that when inked, print the image. Consider the labor involved in producing an etched plate like this one. The tools and skills are not exactly esoteric, but they do reflect specific cultural know-how, and extended periods of training. Here, that labor yields a scene of domestic tranquility: a woman calmly pouring milk, a cat peacefully asleep, and a humble interior. But even in this scene, there are suggestions of labor and social context. The print acts as a valuable reminder that close attention to materials and processes reveals layers of social and cultural meaning, encouraging us to look beyond traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.