Gerda Hagborg I ("Pour plaire") 1893

Anders Zorn created "Gerda Hagborg I" using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history. To make this image, Zorn would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then drawn his composition through this layer, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The etched lines have a distinctive character. The crispness and controlled depth giving the image its tonality and texture. Look at the details of the face and hair. This would have been a labor-intensive process. Each print pulled from the plate would be a unique impression, bearing the mark of Zorn’s hand and the corrosive action of the acid. By understanding the material process of etching, we can appreciate the subtle nuances of Zorn's image, and recognize the skilled traditions that lie behind it. This reminds us to look beyond the surface and consider the social and material conditions of artistic production.