Man en vrouw met kind 1843 - 1887

This etching, ‘Man en vrouw met kind,’ by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch, dating from the 19th century, is made using the intaglio printmaking process, where the image is incised into a metal plate. The plate is then inked, and the excess ink wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The pressure of the printing press forces the paper into these lines, transferring the image. This method gives the print a distinct raised quality along the lines, which you can see in the stark contrast and fine detail of the figures. Consider the labor involved: the skilled hand of the etcher carefully cutting into the metal, the press operator ensuring even pressure. The very lines that define the figures are products of physical work. The image depicts a family, and the hard work necessary for their survival is mirrored by the labor needed to produce the print itself. By looking closely at the materials and methods, we recognize that what we often separate as ‘art’ and ‘craft’ are in fact deeply interconnected.