Meisje met mandje aan de waterkant 1826 - 1886

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter made this print, "Meisje met mandje aan de waterkant," using etching techniques. The tonality, the shades of light and dark, speak to the process of etching, where acid eats away at a metal plate to hold ink. Here, the etched lines create soft contrasts, describing the scene: a girl, a basket, a stream. The very act of printing—pressing the paper against the inked plate—imparts a subtle texture to the surface. As with other prints, the work's availability made it accessible to a wider audience. Each impression carries the marks of the artist's hand and the artisan's skill. Consider the social context in which this image was created. Sluyter was working within a rapidly industrializing world, yet he chose to depict a tranquil, pastoral scene. This choice reflects a longing for simpler times and a connection to nature. The labor involved in creating this print—from preparing the plate to pulling each impression—is a testament to the value of craftsmanship in an age of mass production.