San Maclou, Rouen 1907

Joseph Pennell created this etching of San Maclou, in Rouen, using a metal plate, acid, and ink. Etching is an indirect process; rather than directly cutting into the metal, the artist protects certain areas with a waxy “ground,” then bathes the plate in acid. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines will be. Pennell would have then removed the plate from the acid, cleaned off the ground, and inked the plate, wiping the surface so that ink remained only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper would have been pressed against the plate, transferring the image to the paper. Consider the amount of labor that goes into the production of an etching like this. The final print belies the chemical processes, material choices, and skilled labor needed to create the image. With this in mind, we can see the finished work as a product of material, making, and context. This challenges the traditional art historical distinction between fine art and craft.