Landschap 1868 - 1912

Landschap, or Landscape, was made by Maria van Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, using etching, an indirect method of printmaking. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, and then scratched an image into it with a pointed tool. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the metal where the ground had been removed, creating incised lines. The varying depths and thickness of these lines, produced through this labor-intensive process, lend the final print its tonal range, defining the heavy sky over the dark sea. This print relies on skilled handwork and the controlled use of mordant chemicals, demanding expertise. While etching can lend itself to mass production, here, it is employed for nuanced artistic expression. It demonstrates a keen awareness of the material and its potential to capture atmospheric effects, which speaks to the inherent value and aesthetic contribution of craft within fine art.