First Snow (No. 1) c. 1914

George Elbert Burr created this print, First Snow (No. 1), using etching, a process dependent on the repetitive labor of drawing. Burr carefully incised lines into a metal plate, which was then submerged in acid. Where the metal was exposed, the acid would eat away, creating grooves. The plate was then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The resulting print evokes a wintry landscape, capturing the delicate details of bare trees and snow-covered ground. Burr's skill lies in his mastery of line. The labor intensive process reveals the textures and tones of a wintery landscape. Burr made many of his own tools, allowing him to create a personal aesthetic. By emphasizing process and labor, we recognize the convergence of craft and fine art.