Vrouw steunt met haar arm op de schouder van een man met gitaar 1874

This is an etching by Jules van Keirsbilck, showing a woman resting her arm on the shoulder of a man with a guitar. Etching is an indirect method of printing, using acid to bite lines into a metal plate. The fine, detailed lines we see are typical of the medium, achieved by carefully layering the plate with a waxy, protective ground, before scratching away the design. The plate would then have been immersed in acid, and finally inked and printed. The etching process allows for a high degree of control and precision. It’s a technique that emerged as a printmaking method for artists looking to replicate the details of their drawings, and explore the tonal and textural possibilities of the medium. It is worth considering how the intimacy and immediacy of the etched line contributes to the work’s atmosphere. Paying attention to the materials and processes used by artists like Jules van Keirsbilck helps us appreciate their creativity and skill, and enriches our understanding of their work.