Landschap met een weg van Gent naar Brussel 1831

This landscape, showing a road from Ghent to Brussels, was etched by Pierre François De Noter sometime in the early 19th century. An etching is made by drawing into a metal plate with a sharp needle, then covering the plate with acid. This bites away the exposed lines, leaving an image that can be inked and printed. What is special about the etching process is the fineness of line that can be achieved. Here, De Noter uses this to great effect, creating a scene that feels both detailed and atmospheric. Look closely, and you will see the rough texture of the paper, which softens the image. The image is almost a celebration of infrastructure. But the scene is also populated by working people— a reminder that even the most picturesque landscape is also a site of labor, of transit, and of economic activity. Considering the material process of the etching alongside the image, we are invited to consider the relationship between landscape, labor, and the development of modern society.