Vier mannen in sloep before 1844

This delicate etching, "Vier mannen in sloep" was created by Willem Gruyter Jr. in the 19th century, using a copper plate. The lines you see were made through a labor-intensive process. The artist would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched an image into it with a needle. Finally, the plate would be bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind incised lines. In this print, the fineness of the lines evokes a sense of detail and depth. Look closely at the textures of the water and the wooden boats; the linear marks create tone, volume and shadow, to describe the scene. Like other kinds of prints, etching was a democratic medium, capable of circulating images widely. In this case, the scene suggests the rise of leisure time during the industrial era. Consider the skilled labor and the social context embedded in the work. It challenges us to expand our understanding of art, by looking beyond traditional boundaries.