Straatgezicht 1883

This is an etching made by Gerard Jan Bos, sometime before 1943. The image shows a street scene. Now, etching is an interesting process. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating, then scratches an image into that coating. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed metal is eaten away, creating recessed lines. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, paper is pressed onto the plate, transferring the image. You can see how the material qualities of the metal plate, the acid, and the ink all influence the final appearance. Bos's skill in manipulating these materials, combined with his eye for composition, results in a print that captures a specific time, place, and feel with just a few deftly scratched lines. It is the labor and artistry involved that elevates this etching.