plate no. 8557
The March of the Weavers in Berlin
Kathe Kollwitz, 1897
some experience helpful
Recreating this etching will help students develop skills in cross-hatching, line weight variation, and creating depth through layering. It will also teach them how to convey emotion and movement using limited tonal values.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to the figures in the foreground using cross-hatching.
- step 04
Gradually build up the values, using thicker lines and closer spacing for darker areas.
- step 05
Use thinner lines and wider spacing for lighter areas.
- step 06
Pay attention to the direction of the lines to suggest form and texture.
- step 07
Add details to the faces and clothing, using fine lines to create subtle variations in tone.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting the values and adding final details.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary · gray
Varying the ratio of black to white will create different shades of gray. Diluting the black ink can also create lighter tones.
techniques
- ·cross-hatching
- ·line weight variation
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·stippling
common pitfalls
- →Creating muddy or undefined values.
- →Making the lines too uniform or regular.
- →Losing the sense of depth and perspective.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impact.
materials
surface · etching paper or heavy drawing paper
required
- ·etching needle or fine liner pen
- ·etching ink or black drawing ink
- ·etching paper or heavy drawing paper
- ·etching press or baren (optional)
- ·soft cloth or paper towels
- ·tracing paper
- ·pencil
- ·ruler
optional
- ·magnifying glass
- ·burnishing tool
Experiment with different types of paper and ink to achieve different effects. Use a light touch when applying the ink to avoid clogging the lines.
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