Kruisspin in zijn web 1916 - 1919

Jan Mankes made this subtle print, *Kruisspin in zijn web*, using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history. Here, we see the delicate, precise labour involved, where the artist protects areas of a metal plate with wax before submersion in acid, meticulously controlling the depth of the etched lines. The ink settles into these grooves, and when pressed onto paper, it creates the image. This work beautifully illustrates the relationship between material and image. Notice how the fineness of the etched lines allows for the detailed depiction of the spiderweb, conveying both its fragility and its intricate structure. The dark background, achieved through careful etching and inking, heightens the contrast and draws our attention to the web's delicate geometry. Mankes, in choosing such a subject and medium, elevates the everyday to the realm of art, and reminds us of the careful processes that shape our visual world. In this piece, we see how craft and fine art converge.