Bomen op een heuvel 1885

This is “Bomen op een heuvel,” or “Trees on a Hill,” an etching made by Willem Witsen. The etching process is an indirect one, relying on acid to bite lines into a metal plate. The plate would first be coated with a waxy ground, upon which the artist scratched his design, here the outlines of trees and tufts of grass. The plate was then submerged in acid; the longer it was left, the deeper the lines would be. This gives the final image a crisp, linear quality. The plate would then be inked and pressed onto paper. As an intaglio process, etching leaves a slight relief on the page, a trace of the artist’s hand. The monochromatic palette also emphasizes the labor involved in the production of the image, and the effects of light, shadow, and tone, captured with skilled precision. Looking at the final print, we can appreciate the artistry and craft required to create such a subtle and evocative image. Through the selection of materials and mastery of process, Witsen invites us to contemplate the landscape.