Jonge vrouw in het bos, kijkend naar een koppel in de verte 1842

Eugène François de Block created this etching, "Young woman in the forest, looking at a couple in the distance," using an intricate and painstaking printmaking process. The magic of etching lies in its ability to capture fine details and subtle tonal variations. An etching begins with a metal plate, typically copper or zinc, coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws their image onto the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper and darker the lines will be. To create different tones, the artist can stop out certain areas with varnish to prevent them from being etched further. Once the etching is complete, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the image. De Block’s masterful handling of the etching technique allows him to create a dreamlike atmosphere. This print invites us to consider not only the scene depicted, but also the labor and skill involved in bringing it to life.