Køkkeninteriør 1887

Bernhard Ulrik Middelboe created this etching, "Kitchen Interior," sometime between 1870 and 1931, using metal plates and acid to bring forth this composition. The dense crosshatching creates depth and shadow, a scene of labor and the everyday. Etching is an indirect process, meaning the artist doesn't directly draw the image you see; instead, they manipulate the metal through chemistry. Think about the labor invested here: coating the plate, carefully scratching away the protective layer, immersing it in acid, and then finally, the controlled application of ink. This intense work yields the final print. The choice of such a quotidian subject – a woman at work in her kitchen – rendered through such a demanding process elevates the dignity of labor. It asks us to consider the value we place on both artistic creation and domestic work, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, labor, and leisure.