Towing to Windward c. 19th century

Stephen Parrish created this etching, "Towing to Windward," using a copper plate and etching tools. The image emerges from the labor-intensive process of incising lines into the metal, which then hold ink to be transferred to paper. Look closely and you can see the textures produced by this process. The blurry sky, the rippling water, and the sharp lines of the ships’ rigging are all achieved through careful control of the etching process. Parrish's technique would have involved applying an acid-resistant ground to the plate, drawing through it to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid. The longer the plate remained in the acid, the deeper and darker the lines would become. Consider the labor involved in creating this image. Each line represents a deliberate mark, a testament to Parrish’s skill and patience. In its depiction of maritime activity, the image also points to the labor of sailors. By focusing on the detailed materiality of the print, we can appreciate the connection between artistic skill, the world of labor, and the broader culture of late nineteenth-century America.