Verschillende figuren in een tuin 1776 - 1851

This print, “Verschillende figuren in een tuin”, was made by Daniël Veelwaard in the late 18th or early 19th century, using a technique known as etching. Etching is an indirect intaglio process. The plate, likely copper, would have been coated with wax, through which the artist scratched his design, before immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. Ink is then applied to the entire plate and carefully wiped away, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The print is made when the plate is pressed onto paper. Consider the degree of skill required to execute this process effectively. It’s a laborious task, emphasizing the contrast between the labor involved in its production, and the seemingly leisurely scene it depicts. Note the figures relaxing in the garden, a space of cultivated leisure for the moneyed classes. Ultimately, appreciating the time, skills, and material processes behind this print invites us to reflect on the social and economic context of its creation, and who it was made for.