Portret van Thomas Haden of Derby 1864

Sir Francis Seymour Haden created this portrait of Thomas Haden of Derby using etching. It's a printmaking technique dating back to the 16th century, where the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant layer, and then draws an image into it with a pointed tool. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The magic of etching lies in the controlled corrosion, allowing for fine lines and intricate details that define the character of the person depicted. The depth and width of the lines can be varied by controlling the time the plate spends in the acid, thus creating a tonal range from light to dark. After the plate is cleaned, ink is forced into these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the ink and creating a mirror image of the original design. Considering the labor-intensive nature of this process, this print is not just an image, but also a testament to the artist's skill. This challenges the traditional hierarchy that separates the 'fine' art of painting from the ‘applied’ art of printmaking.