Horsens Fjord 1887

Axel Hou created this print of Horsens Fjord using etching, a printmaking process that depends on acid. The process begins with a metal plate covered in a waxy, protective layer. The artist then draws into this layer with a sharp needle, exposing the metal where they want the lines of the image to appear. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating incised lines. The longer the plate remains in the acid, the deeper the lines become, and the darker they will print. Once the etching is complete, the plate is inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper is laid on the plate, and run through a press, transferring the ink to the paper and creating the print. Notice how the etched lines capture the subtleties of light and shadow in the landscape. The image, so dependent on skilled handwork and chemical reaction, reminds us that even seemingly straightforward landscape imagery results from a complex intersection of labor, material, and technique.