Twee naakte vrouwen 1671 - 1726

This print of two nude women was made with etching, likely in the 17th or 18th century. Etching is an indirect intaglio process. The plate would have been coated in wax, and lines then scratched through it. Acid would have been applied, biting into the metal where exposed. This process is repeated to make the lines deeper, and therefore hold more ink. Finally, the plate is cleaned and printed. There is considerable labor involved. The etcher must have the skill to manipulate the tools and materials for a consistent result. The acid must be carefully controlled. And we have to consider, too, that an image like this must have been created with a specific audience in mind. It is a far cry from a unique, handmade work, but a multiple intended to circulate. So, as you look, consider the amount of work that went into this image, and how its circulation through printing made art accessible to a wider audience.