Procession Over Bridge by Ducal Palace, Venice 1914

Clifford Addams made this etching, "Procession Over Bridge by Ducal Palace, Venice," using metal, acid, and ink. Etching is an indirect process, meaning that the artist doesn't directly incise the image into the plate. Instead, the metal is coated with a waxy ground, and then the design is scratched through this coating. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. The plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed against paper, transferring the image. This printmaking technique, like many others, democratized image production, making art more accessible for general consumption. This etching, with its intricate detail and delicate lines, shows the circulation of images that coincided with an increase in global tourism. The labor involved is not just physical but also intellectual, requiring both technical skill and artistic vision.