En lille pige, som har stukket sig på en rose 1855

This print, showing a girl pricked by a rose, was made by Erling Eckersberg. The artist was son to C.W. Eckersberg, known as the father of Danish painting, and like his father, Erling mastered the exacting art of etching. The image is composed of countless tiny lines, each one bitten into the surface of a copper plate with acid. This is not a quick process; it requires patience and a steady hand. Look closely, and you’ll see how Eckersberg has used the density and direction of these lines to create a sense of light and shadow, volume and texture. The girl’s skin, for example, is rendered with delicate strokes, while the roses are more deeply shaded. The contrast between the sharp thorns and the soft petals is also cleverly conveyed through the etching technique. The print exemplifies the subtle craft of etching, and also the artist's mastery of materials and processes in the service of visual storytelling. It reminds us that even the most delicate of images can be born from labor and technical skill.