Summer Landscape V 1963

Peter Milton's "Summer Landscape V" is made with etching, a printmaking technique that dates back centuries. The image starts with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The artist covers the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratches an image into the ground with a sharp needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating incised lines. These lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. The result is a print with a distinctive, slightly raised texture. Milton's image shows how a traditional process like etching can be used to explore themes of memory and perception. Look closely, and you’ll see that the delicate lines create a hazy, dreamlike quality. It’s as if the scene is filtered through a veil of time, reflecting how our memories of places and experiences often become fragmented and indistinct. By emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of the etching process, Milton invites us to slow down and contemplate the fleeting nature of summer and the enduring power of art.