Bomen aan het water c. 1827 - 1888

Remigius Adrianus Haanen made this print, "Bomen aan het water", with etching. Haanen likely coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then used a needle to draw his composition, exposing the metal underneath. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite into the drawn lines. This is a meticulous, almost meditative, process. The depth of the lines depend on how long the plate is exposed to the acid. Look at the image closely: you can almost feel the artist at work, painstakingly scratching away at the surface. The subtle variations in tone and texture give the image an atmospheric quality. The etching technique carries a certain social weight as well, which is a process that allows for multiple impressions to be made from a single plate. It's a form of image-making that lent itself well to reproduction and dissemination. So, next time you see a print, remember the labor, the skill, and the social context that went into its making. It's a reminder that even the most delicate of images can be deeply rooted in materiality.