An Otter, from "Eaux-Fortes Animaux & Paysages" 1855 - 1865

Karl Bodmer made this print of an otter using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. To make an etching like this, Bodmer would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ‘ground,’ before drawing his image into it with a sharp needle. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines of the composition. Notice the crispness and incredible detail that the etching process allows. Look closely at the varying weights of lines creating the illusion of texture and volume; the depth of the animal's fur and the grassy shore. The network of finely incised lines captures the dynamism of the animal, making it appear in motion. Bodmer likely considered the amount of labor involved in the etching process. He chose to emphasize craft in a period defined by industrialization and factory production. The etching medium provided a means of retaining the hand of the artist.