Passenger Boat on the Seine 1887

Charles Adams Platt created this print, "Passenger Boat on the Seine," using etching, a printmaking process that intricately combines material and labor. Platt carefully applied an acid-resistant ground to a metal plate, then drew his design, exposing the metal. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and finally, the image transferred to paper under high pressure. The resulting print bears the mark of this process. The etched lines define the forms, from the gentle ripples on the Seine to the architectural details of buildings in the background. The tonal range is subtle, achieved by varying the density and depth of the etched lines. But beyond its aesthetic qualities, the etching speaks to the labor involved in its creation, both Platt's own artistic labor and the often unseen work of printers and papermakers, revealing how even seemingly straightforward images are deeply embedded in material processes.