Landschap met kerk en processie 1743

Davide Antonio Fossati made this landscape with church and procession using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history. The process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, then scratching through it with a needle to expose the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating recessed grooves. To make a print, ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and then dampened paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink from the grooves to the paper. The resulting image has a unique quality, with delicate lines and subtle variations in tone that reflect the artist's hand. The amount of work involved in the production process highlights the inherent labor of the printmaking practice, and invites us to consider the social context within which art is produced and consumed.