Herder met een kudde schapen bij een schuur 1896

Willem Steelink’s print shows a shepherd with his flock, rendered on paper using an etching technique. The image is made of finely incised lines, which hold ink to create the image. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, before drawing into it with a sharp needle. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves capable of holding ink. The tonal variation is achieved through the labor-intensive process of hatching and cross-hatching, where the density of the lines creates areas of light and shade. It speaks to the skilled traditions the artist has engaged with. Consider the social context: Steelink’s choice of subject matter, rural labor, elevates the everyday lives of working people. The medium of printmaking also makes art accessible and more affordable to a wider audience, breaking down traditional hierarchies. In understanding the full meaning of Steelink’s print, we can challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.