Schaaters bij knotwilgen 1857

This print of skaters by Johannes Franciscus Hoppenbrouwers, held in the Rijksmuseum, was achieved through the etching process, a printmaking technique with a long history. A metal plate, likely copper, would have been coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratched an image into this ground, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate was immersed in acid, the exposed lines were bitten into, creating grooves. Ink would then be applied, filling these grooves. Finally, the plate would be pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The etching allows for a delicacy of line nearly identical to drawing. The result captures a light-filled winter scene, a kind of vernacular moment. This print situates itself within a wider world of industrialization, where such readily reproducible images had an increasing appeal and accessibility. So while it may seem straightforward, this humble print implicates larger networks of production, consumption, and aesthetic value.