Colzean Castle n.d.

John Clerk of Eldin created this etching, "Colzean Castle," using a metal plate, likely copper, and acid. This printmaking technique hinges on the artist’s ability to manipulate the corrosive properties of acid to incise lines into the metal. The process begins with coating the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then draws through this layer, exposing the metal. When immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. The depth of these grooves determines the darkness of the lines in the final print; deeper lines hold more ink. Consider the stark contrast between the castle atop the cliff and the laborers working the fields. The fine lines of the etching capture the social hierarchy of the time, etched in acid and printed for distribution. The castle, a symbol of power and privilege, looms over the landscape and the workers below. This print is not just an image, it’s a statement about the world.