Wilgenrij 1842 - 1898

Johan Frederik Croockewit created 'Wilgenrij' using the etching technique in the 19th century. Etching involves drawing with a sharp needle on a metal plate coated with wax. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines become. Once printed, these lines hold the ink and create the image. Look closely and you’ll notice the distinct quality of the etched lines. They have a delicate, almost feathery quality, suiting the landscape which features a row of willow trees and a low horizon. This print is one of many such images produced in the 19th century, feeding a growing public appetite for accessible and affordable artworks, at a time when the technology of reproduction was rapidly evolving. Consider the amount of labor involved in creating the matrix, and the relative ease with which multiple images can then be produced. Seeing this print, remember that the value lies not only in the image itself, but also in the labor and social context of its making.