Arnout Tholinx, inspector 1733 - 1797

This print of "Arnout Tholinx, inspector" was made by Pierre François Basan using etching, a process closely tied to the rise of industrialization. The image starts with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The surface is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant material called etching ground. Basan would have then used a needle-like tool to scratch away the ground, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed areas are eaten away, creating lines. The longer the plate is exposed, the deeper the lines become, and the more ink they hold. The printing itself required skilled labor to apply ink to the plate, wipe away the excess, and then press paper against it. The texture and weight of the paper, and the pressure applied, would have all influenced the final image. This reproductive technology was critical for circulating images and ideas, becoming a kind of factory for making pictures.