Atlas 1908

Oluf Hartmann created this print, "Atlas," using etching, sometime in the early 20th century. Etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant layer, and then scratching an image into that surface, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The longer it soaks, the deeper the lines become. Finally, ink is applied to the plate and then wiped off, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Pressed onto paper, the image is revealed. The intensity of light and shadow that Hartmann achieved speaks to the artist's control over the etching process, suggesting both careful timing in the acid bath, and also an attentiveness to the wiping of the plate. The final print is a testament to his labor, and also raises social questions: just like the mythological Atlas, the working classes carry the weight of the world. Hartmann shows us that weight through his skilled manipulation of material.