Kop van een ram 1630 - 1700

This print, entitled ‘Kop van een ram’, was made by an anonymous artist using etching, a printmaking technique with a long and fascinating history. In etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant material called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed against a sheet of paper, transferring the ink and creating a print. The quality of the etched line can vary depending on the pressure applied and the strength of the acid bath. This particular print showcases the fineness of line that the etching process affords, whilst also hinting at the labour and skill involved in each stage of production, from preparing the plate, to the act of pulling the print. Looking at art through the lens of materials and making helps us appreciate not just the final image, but also the complex processes and traditions that bring it into being.