Oude man met slaapmuts ruikt aan de bloemen in zijn vensterbank 1895

This print, made by Auguste Danse, uses etching - a process that can create incredible detail. An etcher covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratches an image into it with a needle. The plate is bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Here, the etched lines have built up a dense, almost velvety texture, especially in the shadows. Look at how Danse suggests form: not with bold outlines, but through subtle gradations of light and dark. Etching was a popular medium for the reproduction of images, allowing for a wide distribution of art. While Danse could be said to be working within an established, almost industrial system, his print has an intimacy that is far from mechanical. You can see how the handmade process, where slight variations in pressure and timing can make all the difference, is evident in the final result.