Rokend man 1694

This etching, Rokend man, was made in 1694 by Nicolaes van Haeften. Here, we see a scene of everyday life rendered through the skilled manipulation of metal and acid. The etcher protects parts of a metal plate with wax, immerses the plate in acid, which eats away at the exposed metal, and then inks and prints the design. Consider the labor involved in the production of this print. The extraction and processing of metals, the crafting of tools, the skilled hand of the artist, all contribute to the creation of this image. The very act of etching mirrors the social processes it depicts, with labor and leisure intertwined in the production of both art and everyday life. Van Haeften's choice of etching as a medium also speaks to the changing landscape of art production during this time. Etchings, unlike unique paintings, could be reproduced and disseminated widely, contributing to the growth of a market for art accessible to a broader audience. This print, then, is not just an image of everyday life; it is also a product of the social and economic forces that shaped 17th-century Dutch society.