Oude drinker 1888

Max Thedy made this etching, "Oude Drinker," using metal plates and acid to bring the image into being. The process of etching is laborious and indirect. The artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratches away lines to expose the metal underneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, these exposed lines are etched into the surface. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. The deep lines and cross-hatching give the sitter a haggard, worn appearance. His age is etched onto his face. The contrast between the stark, unforgiving line of etching, and the softened subject matter is what makes this image so striking. This wasn't a quick sketch, but a deeply worked image achieved through demanding printmaking techniques. The etching process elevates the image, giving dignity to a common scene. By considering the artist's labor, we see how craft can transform the mundane into something meaningful.