My Acid Workshop (Where I do my Etching) 1910

Carl Larsson made this watercolour, titled "My Acid Workshop (Where I do my Etching)", sometime in his lifetime. What gets me is the quiet hum of industry in this domestic scene. Look at Larsson himself, standing there, in what looks like his studio apron, turning the handle of his etching press. I bet the weight of the press feels good in his arms, the resistance of the metal and paper. Then there are his two kids, bent over their work at the table. The whole scene is bathed in the warm glow of concentration. The funny thing is, etching is a messy, dangerous business. The acid itself, the fumes, the sharp tools – it's all a bit scary. Maybe that's why Larsson made it a place of warmth, security, and family. He invites us into his world, and we feel like we’re part of the conversation too.