Rotsachtig landschap in de buurt van Barcelona before 1895

This photogravure, “Rotsachtig landschap in de buurt van Barcelona”, was created by Pauli et Bartrina. Photogravure is a printing process in which an image is photographically transferred to a metal plate, usually copper, and then etched. The image has a distinctive tonal range and surface texture, achieved by coating a copper plate with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue, exposing it to a photographic transparency, and then etching the plate in an acid bath. The different depths of the etching create variations in ink density when printed, resulting in a continuous-tone image. The rich blacks and subtle gradations of tone are the result of a highly skilled and labor-intensive process. Consider the amount of work involved in creating the original photographic negative, preparing the printing plate, and then producing the final print. Photogravure was often used for high-quality reproductions of artworks, or, as is the case here, to document different landscapes. Appreciating the labor and skill involved in its production helps us move beyond the image itself and consider the broader context of its making.