Seated woman holding a fan 1775

Giuseppe Canale created this etching of a seated woman holding a fan. Etching is a printmaking technique using acid to cut into a metal plate, usually iron or copper. The plate is covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. The plate is dipped in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating recessed lines in the plate. The remaining ground is removed, and the plate is inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The resulting lines are incredibly fine, and display an immediacy of gesture. But despite the apparent ease of production, skilled labour is essential for success in all stages of the process. In this case, the artist's technical virtuosity is on full display. Thinking about the material and the making helps us appreciate the full meaning of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.