Pachthoeve bij Kasteel Gunterstein, Breukelen 1680 - 1696

Joseph Mulder made this print of a farm near Castle Gunterstein in Breukelen sometime around the turn of the 18th century, using etching and engraving techniques. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the physical properties of the metal plate used for printing have influenced the artwork's appearance. The lines, etched and engraved, capture details ranging from the thatched roof to the figures strolling along the path. The processes of etching and engraving involved careful labor and skill. Mulder manipulated tools to create grooves on the plate, holding ink, then transferring this to paper. Here we see a blending of craft and fine art. Mulder’s print uses techniques traditionally associated with skilled trades to represent a scene of leisure and rural life, hinting at the social and economic structures of the time. By considering the materials, making, and context, we gain a fuller appreciation of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.