Regnvejrsdag i granskoven 1901

Hans Julius Fæster made this print, *Rainy Day in the Spruce Forest*, using etching, a printmaking technique that requires considerable labor. The image starts with a metal plate, most likely copper. The artist covers the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws through it with a sharp needle to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid creates tiny incised lines wherever the metal is bare. The longer the plate is in the acid, the deeper and darker the lines will be. Look closely, and you’ll see that Fæster has used a dense web of these lines to build up the scene, capturing the somber atmosphere of the forest. The varying depth and proximity of the etched lines create a wide tonal range, from the dark, dense tree trunks in the foreground to the light filtering through the trees in the distance. Printmaking multiplies images, making them accessible. So, although etching is labor-intensive, it’s also democratic, bringing art to a broader audience and challenging traditional notions of artistic value.