Moseparti med Træer 1695 - 1769

Christian Fritzsch created this etching, Moseparti med Træer, using metal plate and acid, sometime before his death in 1769. The image is achieved through the printmaking technique of etching. The plate, likely copper, would first be coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink to create the print. Consider the labor involved; the skilled hand required to control the acid’s bite, to achieve the subtlety of line seen here. The result is a scene suffused with atmospheric depth, all achieved through an indirect, chemical process. It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of complex material transformations, bridging artistry and craft.