Suikerrui en Boterrui in Antwerpen 1868

Jean Théodore Joseph Linnig made this print of Suikerrui en Boterrui in Antwerpen using etching, a traditional form of printmaking. The image is created by biting lines into a metal plate with acid, then inking and pressing the plate onto paper. The etcher's skill is evident in the precision of the lines, describing the buildings and figures with remarkable detail. Look closely, and you can almost feel the energy of the street scene, with children playing and merchants at work. The material qualities of the print - the crispness of the lines, the contrast between light and shadow - all contribute to this sense of immediacy. Linnig was part of a generation of artists who sought to capture the everyday life of the city, but the level of work put into the etching elevates it beyond a simple depiction. The print reminds us that even the most humble subjects can be transformed into something beautiful through skilled making and material sensibility, challenging the divide between fine art and craft.