Gezicht op Crooswijk c. 1884

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this print of Crooswijk, using etching. Look closely, and you'll see how this printmaking technique lends itself to a distinct kind of image-making. To create it, the artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratched an image into the surface, exposing the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The longer the plate remained in the acid, the deeper the lines would be. After removing the ground, the plate was inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper was laid on the plate, and run through a press, transferring the image onto the paper. The resulting image has a distinctive character; a combination of precision and delicacy. It invites us to reflect on the way an industrial process can be harnessed for artistic effect. We might also consider the social context of this image, and the labor involved in producing both the scene and the artwork itself. Etchings like this one often blur the boundaries between craft, design, and fine art.