Frederik V's besøg på Sorø akademi 1749

Poul Isac Grønvold made this print of Frederik V's visit to Sorø Academy, using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history, and close ties to both craft and industrial production. The print’s character depends entirely on the etched line. First, the metal plate would have been covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Then, using a sharp needle, Grønvold would have drawn his design, exposing the metal underneath. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the lines. This process could be repeated to deepen the lines. Finally, the plate would be inked, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. The controlled nature of the etched line lends itself to the depiction of architecture and formal gatherings, such as the royal visit shown here. But the image is more than a neutral record. The technique of etching itself speaks to the socio-political context of the time, when skilled handwork was increasingly harnessed to the project of mass communication, and the creation of national identity.