Prøveblad. Træer og mandsportrætter 1848

This is "Prøveblad. Træer og mandsportrætter," or "Proof Sheet. Trees and Male Portraits", made by Frits Grove in the 19th century using etching on paper. The printmaking process is interesting here. Etching requires some chemistry know-how. First the metal plate is coated in wax, and then the image is scratched into that surface, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The longer the plate sits in acid, the deeper the lines. After the plate is cleaned, ink is forced into the etched lines, the surface is wiped clean, and finally the image is transferred to paper in a printing press. In Grove’s print, the thin delicate lines of the figures and landscapes show off this skilled tradition and add to the whimsical nature of the scene. Because etching allows for fine detail and reproducibility, it played a vital role in disseminating visual information, fueling debates, and shaping public opinion during a transformative period of social and political change.