Tokio #1 c. 1910

H. Ivan Neilson made this print, Tokio #1, using etching. The image is created by biting lines into a metal plate with acid, then inking and pressing the plate onto paper. The material quality of the metal and the precise control of the etching process allow for extremely fine lines and subtle gradations of tone. The image captures a bustling street scene, likely in Japan, with figures, signs, and lanterns rendered in delicate detail. Etching, as a printmaking technique, democratized image production in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It allowed artists to create multiples, making art more accessible. The labor-intensive process reflects a direct engagement with craft, and a connection to the wider world through the depiction of everyday life in a foreign locale. Neilson's print challenges conventional notions of artistic value, by bringing a skilled hand to bear on scenes of everyday life. It's a reminder that close attention to materials and making can reveal the rich social context embedded in even the most unassuming artworks.