Meer met boot aan de waterkant 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this etching, titled 'Meer met boot aan de waterkant' or 'Lake with boat on the waterfront', using metal and acid. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating, then scratched an image into this coating with a needle. When the plate was dipped in acid, the exposed metal would be eaten away, creating recessed lines. Ink would then be applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, paper would be pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The result is a delicate and atmospheric rendering of a boat at rest on the water. The etched lines vary in thickness and density, conveying the textures of the wooden boat, the stillness of the water, and the haziness of the air. We can appreciate Tholen's skill in manipulating the etching process to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow. This approach elevates what might otherwise be considered a humble scene, blurring the lines between fine art and skilled craft.