Houthakkers langs een bevroren rivier c. 1739 - 1762

Jean Moyreau made this print, "Wood Cutters Along a Frozen River," using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to create lines in a metal plate. The incised plate is then inked and printed onto paper, a method that allowed for the relatively quick reproduction and dissemination of images. Here, the etched lines capture a winter scene. Notice how Moyreau uses a dense, almost scratchy network of lines to build up the darks and textures. The way he varies the pressure and thickness of the lines creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. This is particularly evident in the bare trees and the frozen river, bustling with activity. Prints like this were often made for a growing middle class, eager for affordable art. While Moyreau himself wasn't wielding an axe, the print speaks to the labor of the woodcutters and the everyday life of 18th-century society, reminding us that even art is connected to the world of work and commerce.