En brink. Blæst 1842 - 1905

Thorvald Niss created 'En brink. Blæst' using etching, a printmaking process that relies on the controlled corrosion of metal. The image begins as a polished copper plate. The artist coats the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This process is repeated to achieve darker tones, by protecting areas with varnish, and re-biting the plate. The plate is then inked, the surface wiped clean, and the ink remaining in the etched lines is transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you can see the layered effect, where the varying depths of line create a rich tonal range, evoking the turbulent energy of the scene. The etched lines capture the windswept trees and the churning sea, emphasizing the raw power of nature. Niss masterfully uses the etching process to convey both the delicate details and the dramatic force of the coastal landscape, reminding us that printmaking, like any art, is a fusion of technique and vision.