Man probeert een vrouw het hof te maken c. 1690 - 1755

Elias Baeck created this small etching titled "Man probeert een vrouw het hof te maken" using metal and acid sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The printmaking process begins by applying a waxy, acid-resistant ground to a metal plate. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and the image to the paper. Given the amount of labor involved in this multistep process, consider that this image was likely reproduced numerous times. This speaks to the early modern print market and a growing consumer base with access to this imagery and a desire to own it.