Paard, geiten en schapen 1655 - 1688

This etching, made by Govert van der Leeuw in the 17th century, depicts a pastoral scene of horses, goats and sheep. But it's the artist's technique that is most revealing. Van der Leeuw used a process called etching, where a metal plate is coated in wax, the design is scratched into the wax, and then acid is applied to bite into the exposed metal. The plate is then inked and printed, transferring the image onto paper. What I find interesting here is the way that the etched lines create the image. Look closely, and you can see how the varying thickness and density of the lines create tone, texture, and depth. There’s a real skill and craft involved in controlling the etching process to achieve such a detailed and evocative image. In Van der Leeuw's time, the printmaking trade was booming. Etchings like this one could be reproduced and distributed widely, bringing art to a broader audience. So, this seemingly simple image is actually the product of a complex interplay of craft, commerce, and culture.