Nissen Ridt paa Studen 1842

This is H.C. Henneberg’s "Nissen Ridt paa Studen," made using etching, a printmaking process with a long history. Here, a metal plate has been coated with a waxy ground, and the artist has drawn through it with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The print is made by inking the plate, wiping the surface clean, and then pressing paper against it. Henneberg captures the texture of the buildings, animals, and people with a stark graphic style, which is a hallmark of the etching process. This print provides us with insight into labor and class in a rural setting. Look closely, and you will see a boy riding on the back of an ox, guiding it to turn a water wheel, which in turn powers a mill. The amount of work involved in the production process is implied here, which is heightened by the chosen material and process. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are deeply embedded in social and material conditions.