Making an Etching: A Workshop Exploring Rembrandt’s Techniques

Join the American Federation of Arts at LES Printshop on Tuesday, January 17th for a hands-on printmaking demonstration that brings the techniques behind the AFA touring show into focus.

Participants will take part in the collaborative creation of a single etching, beginning with a shared drawing on a copper plate. This collective approach allows the group to closely observe and engage with each step of the etching process, mirroring the methods Rembrandt used to achieve expressive line, depth, and contrast in his prints.

Once the drawing is complete, the plate will be placed in the acid bath. During this approximately 45-minute stage, LES Printshop Executive Director Marie Tennyson will guide participants through the technical foundations of etching, demonstrating how copper, acid, and timing shape the final image, while sharing examples from the Printshop’s practice.

Next, Anke Van Wagenberg, Senior Curator & Head of International Collaborations, will contextualize the live demonstration through Rembrandt’s work, drawing direct connections between the techniques on view and the etchings featured in the AFA exhibition.

The program concludes with a live wiping and inking of the plate by LES Printshop printer Ian Ruppenthal, culminating in the reveal of a finished collaborative etched print on paper.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Capacity is limited to 30 participants.

Doors open at 5:00 PM
Program begins at 5:30 PM
Conclusion around 7:30 PM

Public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. These programs are also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. We are also grateful for the generous support of Berkley Asset Protection, Huntington T. Block Insurance, Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, and the American Chai Trust.

We also extend our thanks to the IFPDA Foundation and Dutch Culture USA for their generous support, which was essential to making this program possible.

Image Credit: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669). Simeon’s Hymn of Praise, 1630. Etching, state 2(2). Plate: 4 1/16 x 3 1/16 in. (10.3 x 7.8 cm). Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam, 37. B51, NHD 54

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Host or Publisher American Federation of Arts