The Ford 1634

Claude Lorrain created this print, "The Ford," using etching, a process that demands both physical labor and chemical expertise. To make this print, Lorrain would have covered a copper plate with wax, then drawn his design, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away the lines, which when inked and pressed, transferred the composition to paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle variations in line weight, achieved by varying the immersion time. Lorrain used this etching technique to create and disseminate multiple copies of his compositions. In his time, this was an innovative way of expanding his reach, in a way akin to industrial production. Rather than painting an original destined for a single collector, he made his artistry accessible to a wider audience, in a way that democratized art, connecting his artistic practice to emerging modes of production and consumption. This simple print bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and the burgeoning possibilities of mass communication.