Gezicht op Rhenen(?) 1830 - 1878

This is a print by Johannes Pieter van Wisselingh, a view of Rhenen, made using etching, an indirect intaglio process. The artwork is made by covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches into this ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating the image. The appeal of etching lies in its relative ease compared to engraving. It allowed artists to achieve a wide tonal range and fine detail through the manipulation of line and texture. Here we can see the skilled labor of the artist in the details of the figures. Each element in the image relies on the etcher’s mark; even the sky is subtly worked, giving the whole scene a hazy atmosphere. In this artwork, the printmaking process is front and center, reminding us of the labor and skill involved in its creation.