En købstadsgade 1840 - 1905

This is an etching by Pietro Kobke Krohn, depicting a street scene. The appeal of an etching lies in its ability to capture fine details and subtle gradations of tone. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then used a needle to scratch away lines, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. The character of these lines, varying in thickness and depth, contributes greatly to the print's texture and depth. Look closely, and you'll notice how Krohn varies the density of lines to create shadows, define forms, and render textures. The meticulous labor invested in creating the matrix is apparent in the final print, with each line bearing the trace of the artist’s hand. Ultimately, Krohn’s etching is a great example of how process and material contribute to an artwork's meaning. The physical act of etching, and the inherent qualities of the medium, elevate the ordinary into something quite special.