Lezende monnik c. 1850 - 1900

B.J. de Vries Jr. created this print of a reading monk using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. The image began with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then used a needle to draw through the ground, exposing the metal. When immersed in acid, the drawn lines are etched into the plate. This process was repeated to achieve the desired depth and darkness of line. See how the density of lines creates shadows and volume, giving the monk's robes their heavy texture? The texture of the paper, too, influences our perception, its subtle graininess adding to the print’s overall character. This work invites us to consider not only the image, but the labor and skill involved in its making, and the rich history of printmaking as a craft.