Jager en jachthonden op vossenjacht Possibly 1810 - 1811

This print, "Hunter and hunting dogs on a fox hunt" by William Whiston Barney, is made with a technique called aquatint. Aquatint allowed artists to achieve a wide range of tonal effects, mimicking the appearance of watercolor washes. This was done by etching a copper plate, and then selectively blocking out areas with a varnish or wax. When the plate was dipped in acid, the exposed areas would be bitten, creating recesses that held ink. The amount of time spent biting the plate determined the depth and intensity of the tone. Different tones were achieved by repeatedly applying the ground, stopping out areas, and biting the plate. The resulting print reflects the social dynamics of its time. Fox hunting was a pursuit of the landed gentry, but the aquatint process allowed for broader distribution of this vision of aristocratic life. The graphic arts have often played this mediating role, translating experiences between classes. This print offers a window into both the leisure of the wealthy and the technical skill needed to portray it.