Gezicht op de Sint-Rochuskerk bij Messina 1825 - 1849

Richard Sasse made this print of the Sint-Rochuskerk near Messina, employing the technique of etching. This process involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you'll see how the etched lines define the forms and textures of the church, landscape, and even the figure in the foreground. The controlled bite of the acid allows for fine detail, but also a certain graphic quality. Prints like this one reflect a moment in history when the mechanical reproduction of images was becoming increasingly important, and available to a broader public. Etching allowed artists to translate scenes into repeatable forms, and fueled a growing market for scenic views, tapping into both scientific observation and the romanticism of the picturesque. The labor of the artist is thus intertwined with a wider system of production and consumption, democratizing image making to a certain extent. Considering the material and the making helps us understand not only the artistry involved, but also its place in the culture of its time.