Gezicht op een park met paviljoen 1850 - 1899

This print of a park with a pavilion was made by Louis Jaugey, using etching, a printmaking process that’s been around for centuries. Etching involves drawing an image into a prepared ground, which is then exposed to acid. The acid bites into the metal, leaving behind lines that will hold ink. The plate is then inked and wiped, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and finally, the image is transferred to paper using a printing press. The appeal of etching lies in its ability to capture fine detail and delicate tonal variations. Look closely, and you'll see how Jaugey has used closely spaced lines to create areas of shadow and depth, giving the scene a sense of atmosphere and texture. The quality of line speaks to the hand-skills of the artist, and the repetitive, almost meditative labor that is inherent in the etching process itself. By attending to the materiality and making of this print, we can appreciate the artist's skill, but also the history of printmaking as a vital means of communication and artistic expression.