Måneskin på Knudsø ved Ry 1893

This is Måneskin på Knudsø ved Ry, made by Louise Ravn-Hansen using etching, a printmaking technique where a metal plate is covered in wax, a design is scratched into the wax, and then acid is used to bite into the exposed metal. This process is a microcosm of industrial production: preparing a matrix, applying a design through labor, and then using a chemical process to yield the final form. The labor-intensive nature of etching is evident in the dense, cross-hatched lines that create the image's tonal depth. The image’s social significance is further highlighted through its depiction of Knudsø. Printmaking democratizes art, making it accessible beyond elite circles. Ravn-Hansen, by choosing etching, engaged with a medium deeply rooted in the history of craft, while also participating in a wider social conversation about labor, value, and accessibility. Recognizing the processes and context behind art like this urges us to reconsider the boundary between fine art and craft.