Gezicht op het interieur van St Pauls Cathedral, te Londen 1837

This print, depicting the interior of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, was made by an anonymous artist using etching, a printmaking technique. In etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then cleaned, inked, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The fine lines and intricate detail we see here reflect the precision of the etching process. But what makes this print truly compelling is its evocation of labor. Think about the time and skill required to create the etched plate, to produce each impression, not to mention the immense labor to construct the cathedral itself. By appreciating the making of this artwork, we recognize the value and significance of craft, and its place in the history of art.