The Two Men on the Hill 1621 - 1675

Allart van Everdingen made 'The Two Men on the Hill' using etching, a printmaking technique. A metal plate, usually copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the etched lines vary in thickness and depth, creating a range of tones and textures. This process allowed Everdingen to create multiple identical images, making his artwork more accessible to a wider audience, reflective of a growing market for prints in the 17th century. Etching made art more democratic, less reliant on unique, hand-painted works. This shift from unique object to reproducible image had a huge impact on the art world.