The rest on the flight into Egypt: a night piece c. 1644

This etching, 'The rest on the flight into Egypt: a night piece', was made by Rembrandt van Rijn. It's important to remember that an etching is not just an image, but a manufactured thing. Rembrandt made this print by covering a copper plate with wax, drawing his design with a needle, and then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. He then wiped the plate clean, leaving ink only in the grooves, and pressed it onto paper. Consider the labor involved: not just artistic skill, but the physical work of preparing the plate, applying the acid, and operating the press. Rembrandt was deeply involved in the printmaking process, experimenting with different papers and inks. Look closely and you'll see the velvety darkness, achieved through layering of ink. This reveals his awareness of the print not just as an image, but as a crafted object, a sophisticated product of hand and machine.