Drie mannen bij een rivier 1613 - 1666

Nicolas Perelle created this print, "Three Men by a River," using etching techniques, sometime in the late 17th century. The magic of etching lies in its controlled removal of material. Perelle would have coated a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then drawn his composition into it with a fine needle. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you can see how the etched lines articulate the scene, from the dense foliage to the subtle ripples in the water. The quality of the line determines the mood of the artwork. It is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward depictions of nature are born of human labor and ingenuity. Here, Nicolas Perelle has offered us an idyllic scene conjured from acid and ink.