Illustration til "Kjærringen mod strømmen" 1870 - 1882

This illustration, made by an anonymous artist, is printed on paper using the intaglio process. Intaglio refers to printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and this plate is likely copper. The lines you see are made by filling these grooves with ink, then transferring it to the page under great pressure. The image is softened by this printing process, which gives form to the backbreaking labor of a woman washing in the river. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist has built up the scene with dense cross-hatching, particularly around the figure’s bent back and submerged legs, emphasizing the physical exertion involved. The landscape is rendered with similar attention to the textures of wood and water. The rough, unidealized depiction of labor is emphasized by the printmaking process. It is the foundation of a print like this one. And so, by considering the making, we appreciate not only the image, but also the social context it evokes.