Paarden 1696 - 1765

Isaac Walraven created this miniature print of horses, likely in the early 18th century, using the etching technique. The lines you see were incised into a metal plate, probably copper. The plate would then be inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The fineness of the lines suggests a skilled hand, patiently working to capture the energy of these animals. But why choose such a small scale? Prints like these were often made for reproduction in books, or as collectibles for an increasingly literate and affluent middle class. Consider the labour involved: the mining and processing of the metal, the craftsmanship of the tools used for etching, the printing process itself. Each stage reflects broader economic systems. Inexpensive prints like this democratized image-making. So, next time you encounter a print, remember that it's not just an image. It's a product of materials, processes, and a specific moment in social history. It invites us to think about art not as isolated masterpieces, but as objects embedded in a world of work and exchange.