Udenfor et kloster 18th century

This print, "Udenfor et kloster," was made by an anonymous artist using the technique of etching. The image is defined by the character of line, a direct result of the etching process. Here, the artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched an image into it with a needle. Next, the plate was immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, leaving behind an impression ready for printing. Notice how the fineness and density of the etched lines create different textures and tonal values within the composition. Look closely, and you'll see the painstaking labour involved. The artist has also created a sense of depth and perspective to the architectural landscape and figures within it. Etching, as a form of image production, facilitated the wider distribution of visual information, contributing to new ideas about the relationship between labor, aesthetics, and knowledge. It’s a reminder that “craft” plays a pivotal role in the evolution of “high art.”