Huizen aan een wetering 1809 - 1835

This is an etching of houses along a waterway, made by François Joseph Pfeiffer II in the early 19th century. It's made with a metal plate, likely copper, which the artist would have painstakingly scored with lines. The depth and darkness of these lines would determine how the image appears when printed. This process is laborious. Each print pulled from the plate would be a physical testament to Pfeiffer's skill and effort. Look closely and you'll see the fine, delicate lines, especially in the reflection of the water and the leaves of the trees. This would have required enormous patience and control of the etching tools. It is a reminder that even in what might seem like a straightforward landscape scene, there is a whole world of labor and technical expertise involved in its making. This etching invites us to think about the value we place on skill, time, and the physical act of creation.