Fries met putto en vogels 1651

René Lochon made this print, Fries met putto en vogels, using etching, sometime between 1636 and 1675. Etching relies on the corrosive power of acid to create an image in metal, usually a copper plate. The etcher protects areas of the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratches an image into the wax with a sharp needle. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. The artist then applies ink to the plate and wipes the surface clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The contrast between the fine detail of the figures and the broader strokes in the background reveals the artist's control of this process. This print shows how manual skill translates into artistic expression, and how even in reproduction, the hand of the maker remains evident. The amount of skill involved reminds us not to underestimate the labor involved in creating even what seems like a simple image.