Kanaal in Venetië bij maanlicht before 1952

This print, "Kanaal in Venetië bij maanlicht" by G. Mitiganotti, uses the printmaking technique of etching to capture a nocturnal scene. The etcher protects a metal plate with a waxy coating, then scratches an image into that surface, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid which bites into the exposed lines. What results is a fine tracery of lines, which hold the ink and transfer it to the paper under pressure. Look closely, and you can see how the density and direction of these lines create tonal variation. The water is evoked through horizontal strokes, while the buildings have a more chaotic cross-hatching. The print is a multiple; many impressions of the same image can be taken. In the 19th century, printmaking like this became an industry, making art more accessible than ever before. Appreciating the skill and labor involved, both artistic and technical, invites us to reflect on how art is produced, distributed, and consumed.