Zwitserse boerin 1855 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this print of a Swiss peasant woman using etching, a process rooted in craft and design. In etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy substance, and the artist scratches an image into this layer, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, revealing the image. The density of lines in this print speaks to the labor-intensive process of etching. Schaepkens masterfully uses this to create a sense of form, texture, and depth. The cross-hatching gives volume to the woman's skirt and apron, while the fine lines capture the delicate folds of her sleeves. The choice of etching, with its origins in practical printmaking, democratized artmaking, moving it away from unique artworks and opening it up to the world of multiples. This print beautifully illustrates how an artist can elevate a craft-based process to a work of art.