“Rye Sussex, England” is an etching on Japan paper by Charles A. Platt.
“The Olive Trees of the Riviera” is an etching on Japan paper by Samuel Colman.IF YOU GO* What: “Twenty Original American Etchings.”* Where: Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View.* When: Through summer.* Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday.* Admission: $9.95 adults, $4.95 ages 3-17; free ages 3 and under.* Phone: 267-0968.* Website: www.huntermuseum.org.
Of the 5,000 objects that comprise the Hunter Museum’s collection, about half are prints. Throughout the summer, the museum will display an exhibit of prints from its collection representing 14 printmakers whose work, collectively, provides insight into the cultural and artistic zeitgeist of America at the end of the 19th century.
“They’re really typical of British and French prints of the time,” says chief curator Nandini Makrandi. “These are American artists who are looking at European print- makers and emulating that style here to bring it to an American public.”
Etchings are created with a sharp implement, which is used to carve away an acid-resistant coating applied to a metal plate. Then, acid is applied to the exposed areas, etching the plate and creating an image that later can be inked and pressed to create copies.
“Twenty Original American Etchings” was previously displayed in the museum about seven years ago, Makrandi says.