Illustration til Drachmanns digt "November" 1848 - 1926

Waldemar Bøhme created this illustration to Drachmann's poem "November" using etching, a printmaking technique with a rich history. Etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant layer. The artist then scratches an image into this layer, exposing the metal. When dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. The deeper the grooves, the more ink they hold, and the darker they appear in the final print. Here, Bøhme uses etching to create a stark, dramatic scene. The dense, cross-hatched lines evoke the harshness of a November storm, the churning sea, and the dilapidated pier. There's a palpable sense of labor in the image, not just in the making of the print itself, but also in the implied lives of those who built and depended on this pier for their livelihood. The state of disrepair suggests hardship and the relentless power of nature over human endeavor. Considering the labor-intensive process of etching alongside the scene depicted, we can appreciate how Bøhme elevates the everyday, reminding us that art and craft can powerfully reflect the realities of work and life.