Landschap met drie pauwen 1705 - 1775

This print, *Landschap met drie pauwen*, was made by Johann Georg Hertel using etching, a printmaking process that democratized image production. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratched an image into it with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was applied, then the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The beauty of etching lies in its reproducibility; many identical images can be made, meaning these peacocks could be enjoyed by a wider audience. The process itself, while requiring skill, opened up artmaking beyond painting and sculpture, impacting artistic creation and consumption in its time. It is a reminder that printmaking is not just reproduction, but its own unique art form.