Untitled (Harbor Scene) c. 19th century

William B. Closson created this tiny print of a harbor scene using etching, a process with a long and fascinating history. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then scratched an image into it with a fine needle. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite away at the exposed lines, creating grooves. The deeper the bite, the darker that line would appear when printed. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper to reveal the image. This was a favored technique by those who wanted to reproduce images affordably, since printmaking enabled the creation of multiple impressions. Etchings like this one played a key role in the distribution of visual culture. It's easy to overlook the tremendous skill and labor involved in such a small print, yet it represents an important chapter in the story of art's relationship to industry. It reminds us that "fine art" is really just one part of a much larger ecosystem of making.