Rivierlandschap bij Southampton 1848

Auguste Paul Charles Anastasi made this print, Rivierlandschap bij Southampton, using etching techniques. Look closely and you will see how the lines create tonal variation and texture. The etching process involves using acid to corrode unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal. The plate is inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink in the etched grooves. The plate and a sheet of paper are then run through a printing press, applying high pressure to transfer the ink from the recesses of the plate to the paper. The atmospheric perspective is achieved through careful control of the etching process, the depth and density of the etched lines. This attention to technique underscores how the value we place on art is often interwoven with the skilled labor required to produce it. Anastasi bridges the traditional art world and the world of craft.