Grote hertenjacht 1655 - 1690

This print, titled ‘Grote hertenjacht’, meaning “The Great Deer Hunt”, was made by an anonymous artist using an etching technique. The process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into it. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. Ink is applied, and the plate pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The etched lines give a sense of immediacy. The artist likely sketched the composition directly onto the plate, giving the scene its sense of vitality. Notice how the varying weights of the lines create depth and texture, from the landscape to the figures of hunters, horses, dogs, and deer. The scene depicts an aristocratic hunt, a common pastime among the wealthy. Yet, the print itself makes this scene accessible to a wider audience. The relative ease and low cost of printmaking allowed for the reproduction and distribution of images, democratizing art and information. It brings to question the relationship between labor, class, and the consumption of art, challenging traditional notions of fine art.