Jager op de rug gezien 1807 - 1861

Cornelis Steffelaar made this etching, "Hunter Seen From the Back," using metal plates and etching tools. This printmaking technique is an indirect process that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, allowing for fine, detailed lines. Think of the labor involved in creating this image: the mining and refining of the metal, the skilled crafting of tools, and Steffelaar's own artistry in translating the scene onto the plate. The hunter's clothing and gear are also products of labor and material transformation – the tanning of leather, weaving of fabric, and crafting of the rifle. The image captures a moment of solitary work, the hunter walking through a barren landscape, gun in hand, his large bag slung across his body. The tools and clothing tell a story of rural life, and the labor required to subsist off the land. By focusing on the processes of creation, we can appreciate the full scope of this artwork, connecting it to broader social and economic contexts, and challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.