Anthonie van den Bos created this print, “Figures by an Old City Gate,” using etching. It’s a relatively democratic medium, using easily sourced materials: a copper plate, etching needles, and acid. The process begins by coating the plate with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches through this ground to expose the metal, which is then bitten by acid. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines. This determines the darkness of the printed line. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and run through a press to transfer the image onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the extraordinary level of detail Van den Bos achieved, evoking the texture of the stonework and suggesting the dappled light. Through his labor-intensive approach, the artist elevates what could have been a simple depiction of architecture and everyday figures, making it much more. This work reminds us that the means of production, and the choices made during it, are just as significant as the final image.