Vaas met vogels en vruchten 1778 - 1779

Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel designed this print, 'Vase with birds and fruits', sometime in the 18th century. The artist employed etching, a printmaking technique using acid to create lines in a metal plate, resulting in the fine details we see here. Notice the vase, adorned with birds and overflowing with fruit, a display of opulence. The texture, weight, and form of the fruit are all rendered with precision, almost as if you could reach out and pluck them from the page. Consider the skilled labor involved in creating this artwork. Etching demands precision, patience, and a deep understanding of materials. Riedel's expertise elevated a commercial process, printmaking, to a refined art form, and provided patterns for luxury goods. In his subtle way, Riedel challenges the rigid hierarchy between fine art and craft, reminding us that beauty and skill can be found in unexpected places.