Landschap met pakezels en reizigers 1784 - 1848

This print, *Landscape with Pack Animals and Travelers,* was created by Otto Baron Howen. It is made using etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, and then filled with ink and printed. The material character of the etching plate is crucial here. The way that Howen worked on the plate influences our perception of depth, texture, weight and form. Notice the intricate textures of the rocks, achieved through cross-hatching. The image depicts travelers with pack animals in a rocky landscape, probably somewhere in Italy. Consider the labor involved, both for the people depicted here and for the artist. The travelers and animals are workers, moving goods or people across a difficult terrain. Howen, also, put in hours of painstaking labor to create this landscape. Looking at *Landscape with Pack Animals and Travelers,* we can see the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of this print. It bridges the gap between fine art and craft, reminding us that both are forms of skilled labor.