Vrouwen vissen een vrouw uit een sloot 1823

This print, 'Women Fishing a Woman from a Ditch,' was made by Daniël Veelwaard around the late 18th century, employing etching and engraving techniques. The process begins with a metal plate, likely copper, meticulously coated with a waxy, acid-resistant layer. Veelwaard would then scratch his design into this layer, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid would bite into the exposed lines, creating grooves. For the engraving, he would directly carve lines into the plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the etched and engraved lines, before being pressed onto paper. This method, while requiring skill, was also relatively efficient, enabling the mass production of images like this one. Prints like these served as a crucial medium for disseminating visual information widely, reflecting and shaping social attitudes of the time. In this particular print, we get a glimpse into the everyday life and moral narratives circulating amongst the Dutch population. The act of making, in this case, becomes intrinsically linked to the circulation of ideas, and the social fabric of the era.