Landschap met herders met een kudde bij een ruïne c. 1663 - 1726

Moise Jean Baptiste Fouard created this etching, *Landschap met herders met een kudde bij een ruïne*, using metal and acid. An etching like this is made by covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, through which the design is scratched. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind lines. The resulting print emphasizes precision and detail. Look closely at the rendering of the landscape: the textures of the trees, the flow of water, the crumbling ruins, and the figures of the herders and their flock. Fouard creates a world of depth and atmosphere. Consider the labor involved. The artist had to be skilled not only in drawing, but also in the chemical processes required to bring the image to life. Etchings like this one were produced in multiples, making art more accessible and contributing to a growing visual culture. It prompts us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the circulation of images in the 17th and 18th centuries.