Landschap met boerderij aan een rivier en toren in de verte 1744

This landscape with a farm by a river and a tower in the distance was made by Christian Ludwig von Hagedorn using etching. This printmaking process involves drawing with a needle through a waxy coating on a metal plate, which is then bathed in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. The choice of etching as a medium is significant, and shows an interest in capturing the qualities of a drawing with the reproducibility of printing. The delicate lines, made possible through the etching process, add an atmospheric quality to the landscape. Landscape etchings like this one were often made for a burgeoning middle class interested in capturing picturesque scenes in their homes. This reflects the changing social context of art production, and a growing market for affordable art that could be widely distributed. The print participates in a broader trend of making art accessible and commercially viable.