Fisherman from Marken 1896

Jan Toorop created this etching, "Fisherman from Marken", in 1895 using traditional printmaking techniques. Toorop would have started with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, and coated it with an acid-resistant wax or varnish. Using a needle, he scratched away the coating to expose the metal underneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. After removing the coating, ink was applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface was wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure using a printing press. The resulting print captures the quiet dignity of labor. The fisherman, rendered in a network of fine lines, sits in a humble interior, surrounded by the tools and signs of his trade. Toorop’s choice of etching, a medium capable of great detail and tonal variation, elevates this everyday scene. In doing so, he invites us to consider the value and artistry inherent in the lives of working people, challenging conventional hierarchies of art and labor.