Homer’s Etchings
In the collection we have a couple examples of etchings done by the one and only Homer Watson. These pieces are unique from the rest of his art that we have in the collection in that they are devoid of any colour and are much smaller than many of Homer’s paintings in the collection.
But what is an etching? The process originates from a method of decorating armour in the 14th century. Etching – as Homer did it, became popular closer to the 17th century. The process involves covering a metal (often copper) plate in wax and then removing the wax with a precise tool to create an image. The plate is then dipped in acid, and the metal gets eaten away wherever the wax was removed. What remains is a stamp of sorts that can be covered in ink and used repeatedly to create an image on paper or other mediums.
Homer was first introduced to etching techniques by George Clausen, a landscape artist who was French-trained, and whom Homer admired very much. The two artists met in England in 1887 when Homer was on a trip to enhance his art career. With Clausen’s encouragement and guidance, Homer was able to complete five small etchings from designs contained in his sketchbook between October and December, 1889. These included Hay Ricks, Landscape with Oak Trees, two untitled pieces, and Faggot Gatherer (referring to a bundle of sticks). HWHG proudly has the copper plate for the last piece in the permanent collection.
Although Homer did not create many etchings during his career, these five were not the only that he would create. In 1889, Homer wrote to the Marquis of Lorne seeking access to the oil painting “The Pioneer Mill,” which had been sold to the Governor General as a gift to Queen Victoria. Homer wanted access to the piece because he had “some friends” who thought that an etching of the piece would sell well in Canada. Homer was welcomed into Windsor Castle, where he was able to sketch his own painting, and subsequently create an etching of it.
The finished product is one of master detail. Homer was able to capture Pioneer Mill with incredible likeness. He even took the extra time and thought to produce the image in reverse on the metal plate, so that when it was stamped onto paper it would be facing the same way as the original painting. Homer took the time and effort to learn a whole new art form to be able to produce this, on top of what he was already working on with paint. Wow, Homer!
Works Cited:
Etching. (n.d.). History of Science Museum. https://hsm.ox.ac.uk/etching
Homer Watson House & Gallery Permanent Collection
Tovell, R. (1996). A New Class of Art: The Artist’s Print in Canadian Art 1877-1920. National Gallery of Canada.
