Dorpskerk 1830 - 1899

This print of a village church was made by Alexander Schaepkens, likely in the mid-19th century. It's an etching, a process that involves drawing an image into a wax coating on a metal plate, then using acid to bite the exposed lines. The character of the final print is deeply influenced by the process of production. Notice the fine, almost delicate lines, and the way the acid creates subtle variations in tone. Schaepkens was part of a vibrant printmaking culture at this time, when the medium was valued both as a means of artistic expression and a way of disseminating images widely. What's interesting here is that Schaepkens is not making a grand statement, but simply recording the world around him. This print invites us to consider the value of everyday scenes, and to appreciate the skill and labor involved in capturing them through the etched line. It blurs the line between art and craft.