Aften 1898

Editor: This is Louise Ravn-Hansen's "Aften" from 1898, created as a print using etching. It depicts a rural landscape, and the limited palette and the etched lines give it a really somber feel. What stands out to you? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the process itself. Etching in the late 19th century was more than just a reproductive method. It became a powerful medium for artists to directly engage with labor and materiality. The very act of biting into the metal plate with acid…it's a process of industrial production translated into artistic expression. Editor: Industrial? That’s interesting; I thought etching was more traditional than that. Curator: Think about it. Acid, metal plates, printing presses – these are all tools and materials associated with industrial processes. Hansen is not just representing a landscape; she is engaging with a whole system of production. Where was this landscape reproduced and sold? Who had access to it? Editor: So, the material and how it was made connects to broader economic and social questions of that time? The print-making accessible to the public versus a unique landscape painting that may belong only to a patron. Curator: Precisely. By creating multiple impressions, artists like Hansen democratized art viewing in a way that painting never could. What is also worth looking into is to whom would an image of the 'countryside' appeal? And how does this artistic choice intersect with urban development at the end of the 19th century? Editor: I see what you mean. Considering the historical and social context informs the artistic work itself. I will delve deeper into this artwork. Thank you for illuminating this work of art through labor, materiality and consumption! Curator: My pleasure. I also learned more looking through the context of materiality!