Meisje bij een waterpomp 1842 - 1884

Kornelis de Wijs created this delicate etching, "Meisje bij een waterpomp," capturing a moment of everyday life. An etching such as this involves covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawing through it with a needle to expose the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied, then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The medium itself lends a certain character to the work. The finely etched lines create a sense of detail and texture, especially in the girl's dress, and the surrounding foliage. The print captures a slice of life, elevated through skilled labor and artistic representation. By focusing on the labor involved in both the scene depicted and the printmaking process itself, we can appreciate how de Wijs elevates the everyday, blurring the lines between fine art and the skilled crafts.