Gezicht op het Maartensgat in Dordrecht 1851 - 1902

This is "Gezicht op het Maartensgat in Dordrecht," an etching made by Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande. This print is all about the magic of mark-making. Etching is an indirect process. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then draws through it with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This creates grooves that hold ink. Notice the subtle tonal range. To achieve this, the artist likely employed techniques like stopping out—protecting certain areas from the acid to control the depth and darkness of the lines. This was a labor-intensive process, demanding both technical skill and artistic vision. The beauty of etching lies in its ability to capture a sense of spontaneity and immediacy, even though the process itself is quite deliberate. It's a reminder that even in industrial production, the hand of the artist and the richness of the material can still shine through.