Huwelijksaanzoek van een landbouwer 1780

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, “Huwelijksaanzoek van een landbouwer”, which translates to “A Farmer’s Marriage Proposal,” using etching, a printmaking technique, in the late 18th century. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the inked image. The linear quality and fine details of the scene are a direct result of this process. The etched lines have a crispness and precision that are hard to achieve with other methods. Through this repeatable process, Chodowiecki could disseminate his narrative widely. The image's narrative is simple, yet it speaks volumes about labor and class. The act of proposing marriage is set against the backdrop of rural life. This speaks to the social context of the time, reflecting the lives and values of the working class. It reminds us to consider the means of production in which images are created, and the way in which these processes imbue the artwork with cultural significance.