The Hundred Guilder Print: the ass, the camel and the wheelbarrow c. 1648 - 1800

This print was made by Rembrandt van Rijn, using etching, drypoint and burin. Look closely, and you'll notice the print varies in tone. Rembrandt achieved this by applying ink unevenly to the plate, leaving a veil of pigment on the surface. He burnished some areas to lighten them, creating an ethereal effect. There is a definite social commentary in the work, achieved using these techniques, where the artist renders the figures with a keen sense of observation. The lines etched with the burin into the metal plate, capture the play of light and shadow on the figures, lending them an emotional depth that transcends the material. This wasn't just a commercial endeavor, aimed at wealth. It was an attempt to elevate printmaking from mere reproduction, to a medium capable of expressing the artist’s innermost thoughts and feelings. In doing so, Rembrandt challenged the traditional hierarchy that separated the so-called fine arts from the more "humble" graphic arts.