Gezicht op een woning met figuren 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this etching of a house and figures using ink on paper. Etching is a printmaking process that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines in a metal plate. The plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant material, and the artist scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then dipped in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. In this particular work, the delicate lines suggest a considerable amount of labor and skill. But beyond that, the social context of printmaking is key here. Prints democratized images, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond the wealthy elite who could afford paintings. They were a key form of mass media long before photography.