Landschap met een bos aan de waterkant 1887

Louise Danse made this print, "Landschap met een bos aan de waterkant", using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back centuries. The image begins with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through this ground with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer the plate is exposed to the acid, the deeper the lines become. After the ground is removed, ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and the plate is pressed against a sheet of paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. What I find remarkable about etching is the level of control the artist wields, from the pressure of their hand creating the lines to the duration the plate spends in acid. Every decision imparts the work with social and cultural meaning. Far from being simply representational, the landscape is a testament to Danse's labor, skill, and vision. This print invites us to appreciate the artistic effort embedded in the medium.