Landschap met twee jagers langs de weg 1768

Jacob Cats made this print, Landschap met twee jagers langs de weg, in 1768, using etching. This intaglio printmaking technique involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked to produce an image. The dense network of fine lines defines the tonal range of the bucolic scene. Note how Cats modulates the ink, and thus the viewer’s eye, creating a focal point around the hunters resting alongside the path, complete with their loyal dog. The natural landscape, rendered in careful detail, is offset by the more stylized clouds, which draw attention to the surface of the print. Landscape prints like this one, with their intricate details, were increasingly popular among middle class consumers. They provided a connection to nature and rural life at a time when both were rapidly changing, thus revealing wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption during the period. Appreciating the physical labor and skill involved in its creation encourages us to reflect on the dialogue between the artist and his materials.