Huizen op een heuvel Possibly 1849

Remigius Adrianus Haanen made this print, "Houses on a Hill," using etching, a form of intaglio printmaking. The process begins by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. Haanen then used a sharp needle to draw through this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, lines are etched into the metal where the coating has been removed. This is a skilled process requiring knowledge of the materials, acids, and timings. The plate is then inked and run through a press to produce the final print. The distinct quality of etched lines, with their unique depth and texture, is something that artists who adopt the process are keen to exploit. The choice of etching as a medium is significant. In Haanen's time, printmaking was increasingly industrialized, allowing for mass production. Yet, by using etching, a hand-intensive process, he maintains a connection to craft traditions. Paying attention to the materials and methods employed in the work, the artist seems to engage with wider social and cultural issues such as labor, production, and consumption.