De Delftsevaart bij het molentje bij nacht 1798 - 1837

Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar made this print of Delftsevaart by night sometime before 1837, using etching. The image is created by incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The fine, precise lines are the result of a skilled hand guiding the etching tool, a laborious process. This mode of production – the etching process itself - invites us to consider the labor involved. Unlike a quick sketch, or even a painting rapidly executed, etching requires a commitment of time. In its attention to detail, particularly the soft glow of the moon, the print exemplifies the kind of careful observation that was valued in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It elevates the scene, transforming a common industrial waterway into something romantic. Considering the material of the print itself, and the amount of work involved in its production, reminds us not to take such images for granted. It invites us to value the careful labor that went into their creation.