Ponte Molle 1792

Jacob Wilhelm Mechau made this print of the Ponte Molle using etching, a printmaking technique which relies on the controlled corrosion of metal. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then scratched an image into it with a fine needle. Acid then bites into the exposed metal, creating grooves that hold ink. The deeper the bite, the darker the line. Mechau’s etching has a soft, atmospheric quality, achieved by careful control of the acid. The result is an image with a range of delicate tones. While the scene appears idyllic, it is worth remembering the labor involved in both building and maintaining the Ponte Molle, as well as creating the etching itself. The acid is eating away at the metal, just as labor can erode the body. Appreciating the materials and the making helps us to move beyond the picturesque and see the wider context of this image.