Gezicht op een kanaal 1851 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching, titled "Gezicht op een kanaal", using a metal plate and acid. The image, rendered in delicate lines, reveals a canal scene, complete with boats and industrial structures in the background. The etching process involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, then drawing through this layer to expose the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, creating the final image. The resulting lines are characteristically sharp and precise, giving this print its distinctive look. The choice of subject matter, a canal with industrial elements, reflects the changing landscape of the late 19th century, when industrialization began transforming the world. It prompts us to consider the connection between labor, industry, and the natural world. This print, made through a meticulous, craft-based process, invites us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and social context.