Gezicht op het atelier van Charles Verlat 1882

Charles Verlat created this print, ‘View of Charles Verlat's Studio’, using etching, a process in which acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The density of lines, particularly in the building's facade, speaks to the labor-intensive process of etching. Each line had to be carefully drawn through a protective ground, then bitten by the acid. The textures created evoke the rough materiality of the building itself, contrasting sharply with the smooth, blank areas of the sky. Consider the social context: in the 19th century, printmaking was a key means of disseminating images, making art more accessible. Verlat’s choice of subject matter – his own studio – suggests a reflection on his artistic practice, and perhaps an effort to demystify it, by showing the very place where art is made. Looking at this print, we are reminded that art is not just about the final image, but also about the materials, the making, and the social conditions in which it is produced. The print is a great medium, because the value is in the work, not the material.