Vrouw loopt over een pad in het Zoniënwoud 1854 - 1886

Adrien Le Mayeur de Merprés created this print of a woman walking along a path in the Sonian Forest using etching, a technique with a fascinating history. The image is developed through careful mark-making, employing needle and acid. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance known as a ground. Then, using a sharp needle, he would draw the composition, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines become, allowing for a wide range of tonal variation. The plate is then inked, the surface wiped clean, and then the image is transferred to paper under great pressure. This piece is made through craft and chemistry. The final product is a testament to the artist's skill and the rich history of printmaking. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are born from complex processes and traditions.