Chinese kapel in de omgeving van Semarang op Java 1898

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp created this image of a Chinese chapel near Semarang, Java using etching, a printmaking technique involving acid and metal. The etcher coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, then scratches an image into the ground with a needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the metal where exposed, creating incised lines. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and then the surface is wiped clean. Paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. Look closely, and you’ll see that the character of the etched lines has a direct impact on the image, from the tangled fronds of the massive tree to the dense foliage surrounding the modest chapel. Nieuwenkamp has used the linear qualities of etching to capture the dense, lush atmosphere. The labor and care required for this process speaks to the artist's sensitivity to the environment.