Etchings
Jan Sirks created almost 300 etchings. The subject matter ranges from intimate city-views to landscapes, river-scenes, busy ports and architectural landmarks around the Netherlands. It also includes figures, animals, birds and trees. His first etchings were made with the softer zinc plate and his aim was a painterly style which is particularly evident in his portrayal of workhorses. From around 1916 Sirks worked with the unforgiving copper. Sirks aimed to portray day to day life with detail and activity and gets increasingly closer to his subject matter. His tonal contrast increases, his skies evolve from gentle clouds to turbulent angry skies.
