Gezicht vanaf het Haagse Bos naar het Voorhout c. 1700

This print, "Gezicht vanaf het Haagse Bos naar het Voorhout," was made by Jan van Call around the turn of the 18th century, using etching, a printmaking technique dating back to the early 1500s. The process begins with a metal plate, often copper, coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then uses a needle to draw through this ground, exposing the metal. 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 creating the print. Look closely, and you'll see the fineness of the lines van Call was able to achieve with this process, from the feathery clouds to the sharp angles of the architecture. Etching allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, making them accessible to a wider audience. In this case, a privileged one. The image celebrates the leisure life of the Dutch elite, rather than the labor required to create their world.