Zittende elegante dame 1832 - 1890

Edmond Ramus created this etching, “Zittende elegante dame”, using metal plate and acid to render an image of an elegant seated lady. The etching process is crucial to the artwork's appearance. A metal plate, usually copper or zinc, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the metal, creating grooves. The deeper and wider the grooves, the more ink they will hold, and the darker the lines will appear on the print. The plate is then inked, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. The resulting print captures a subtle range of tones and textures, from the delicate shading of the woman's face to the rich folds of her dress. By understanding the materials and processes used to create this print, we can better appreciate the skills of the artist, and move beyond conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.