Aderlating van Caliste 1778 - 1785

This delicate print, ‘Aderlating van Caliste,’ was made by Noach van der Meer the Younger, likely around the late 18th century. It’s an etching, a process involving coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into it, and then bathing the plate in acid. This burns the design into the metal, which is then inked and printed. The sharp lines and fine details reveal the artisan's practiced hand. Note the incredible detail in the room's furnishings, from the bed curtains to the wall decorations and floor rug. Etching was a popular medium for disseminating images in the 1700s. Prints like these offered a relatively affordable way to circulate visual information and satire about social events to a wider audience. Considering its time, this print bridges fine art and social commentary, revealing as much about the period's production and consumption as it does about its aesthetic sensibilities.