Bosgezicht met boek en etsnaald 1827

This is an etching by Carl August Lebschee, made with metal, acid, and ink, to depict a forest scene. The term "etching" describes a printmaking process where lines are incised on a metal plate with acid. The plate is first covered with a waxy ground resistant to acid. The artist then scratches off the ground with a pointed etching needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then dipped in acid, which bites into the metal where exposed, thus marking the design into the metal. The remaining ground is removed, ink applied to the plate, and then wiped from the surface, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, a damp piece of paper is placed on the plate, and put through a printing press. Etching enabled artists to achieve nuances of line and shading close to that of a drawing, as seen in this bucolic rendering of nature. The book and etching needle remind us of the labor and skill required to create such a scene. With its fine detail and reproducible nature, etching offered a way to circulate images and ideas widely, challenging traditional notions of art and its accessibility.