Figuren voor de ingang van een moskee 1875

Vicomte Arthur-Jean Le Bailly d'Inghuem created this print, "Figuren voor de ingang van een moskee," using etching. The etcher's task starts with a polished metal plate, coated with an acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through this ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, lines are bitten into the metal where exposed. The depth of these lines determines how much ink they hold and how dark they print. In this image, you can notice a very fine, detailed network of lines. This is not just a picture; it is a record of a complex, physical procedure. The artist's hand, the biting action of the acid, and the pressure of the printing press all coalesce in this modest image. Thinking about materials, making, and context helps us fully appreciate the amount of labor involved in the production process, while challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.