Gezicht over de Rijn op het klooster Bornhofen en de Vijandige Broers 1828 - 1874

This print, "Gezicht over de Rijn op het klooster Bornhofen en de Vijandige Broers," was made anonymously, using a technique called etching. Essentially, the artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawn the image into it with a sharp needle, and then immersed the plate in acid. This would bite away at the exposed metal, creating recessed lines that would then hold ink. What’s interesting here is the way that this mode of production democratizes image-making. Etchings like this one allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of scenes and views, which were previously only available as unique paintings. In this particular case, we can see that the artist has paid close attention to the details of everyday life, from the architecture to the people on the shore. As you look at it, consider how the printmaking process itself contributed to a wider circulation of knowledge and visual culture, moving away from unique art objects, and more towards a world of reproducible images.