Kippen 1834 - 1896

This print of chickens was made by Johann Kaspar Eissenhardt at an unknown date using etching. In this process, the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, and then scratches away lines to expose the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The method is a rather democratic one; it's an indirect medium between artist, acid, and metal. The etcher can work with a degree of freedom that is not possible in engraving, where cuts are made directly into the metal. Here, Eissenhardt has exploited the potential of this relatively free process. The effect is tonal, and atmospheric. It's a rather straightforward image, but the method is significant: it gave Eissenhardt a way to depict the scene in great detail, and the use of metal allowed him to produce multiple copies for distribution.