Plantijn en drie anderen in de drukkerij 1825 - 1869

This etching by Henri Leys, shows Plantijn and others in a printing shop. Leys skillfully employs etching to convey the tactile quality of 16th-century printmaking. The density of the marks give the impression of textures of paper, ink, and metal type. Looking closely, you can see how Leys scratches away at a coated metal plate, immersing it in acid to bite away the exposed lines. This process, laborious and time-intensive, mirrors the labor involved in printing itself. The crosshatching creates depth and shadow, mimicking the atmosphere of a busy workshop. By using etching, Leys elevates printmaking, a medium often seen as purely reproductive, to a form of artistic expression. In doing so, he highlights the skilled labor involved in both the creation of the printing and of the artwork itself. This reminds us that what we often think of as 'craft' is also a form of art.