Reizigers rusten voor herberg 1642 - 1669

Jan Baptist de Wael made this print, "Travelers Resting Before an Inn," in the mid-17th century using etching, a printmaking technique. This involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating. The artist then scratches an image into the coating, exposing the metal. When acid is applied, it bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The success of the print depends on the etcher’s skillful manipulation of the acid and the stopping-out process, where certain areas are protected from further etching to control the depth and darkness of the lines. As you can see here, the fine, precise linework lends a distinctive graphic quality to the image, freezing a moment in time. Prints like this were commercial products, intended for wide distribution, yet they also demonstrate the artist's command of craft.