Ontwerp voor een installatie voor vuurwerk in een tuin 1738 - 1749

This print, made by Gabriel Huquier in the 18th century, depicts a design for a firework display in a garden, rendered using etching techniques. The fine lines and precise details create a sense of depth and texture, characteristic of this printmaking method. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drawing through the coating to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The plate is then inked and printed, transferring the image onto paper. Here, this technique serves to illustrate a moment of aristocratic leisure, artfully staged in the outdoors. The ephemeral nature of fireworks contrasts with the laborious and skilled process of etching, highlighting the tensions between fleeting spectacle and enduring artistic expression. It's important to remember the amount of work involved in this production process.