Landschap met figuren bij een fontein c. 1750 - 1762

This landscape with figures by a fountain was etched by Jean Moyreau. The etcher begins by covering a copper plate with a waxy ground, and then scratches an image into this surface. Immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away. Ink fills these recessed lines, the plate is cleaned, and then run through a press with a sheet of paper. The result is a mirror image of the original design. The crispness and clarity of the lines is notable, especially in the way they describe the cloud formations. The etching technique allowed for the relatively quick and easy reproduction of images, which fuelled a growing market for prints in the 18th century. This rise in the print market coincides with early capitalism. Etchings allowed the wider population to consume art. Consider the social context of the production of this print. The labour of the artist, the skilled techniques involved, and the materials used all contribute to its meaning, and challenge any strict separation of craft and fine art.