Gezelschap voor een rijtuig 1784 - 1826

This print, made by Jacob Ernst Marcus, is an engraving, a process that is all about exacting control. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a copper plate, each one holding ink to transfer to the page. Look closely, and you'll see how the lines are used to create a range of tones and textures. Notice how this technique defines the figures and their clothing, and gives form to the carriage in the background. Engraving was a commercial process, often used for mass-produced images, but it also demanded great skill and artistry. The very labor-intensive nature of the technique has imbued the artwork with a particular kind of social significance. It captures a moment of drama, but also speaks to the relationship between artistic skill, commerce, and the realities of daily life in Marcus's time.