Landschap met woning 1847 - 1865

This landscape with a house was made by Cornelis Gerrit Verburgh, using a technique called etching. The etching process involves drawing an image into a waxy ground on a metal plate, then immersing it in acid. The acid bites into the metal where the ground has been removed, creating recessed lines. Ink is then applied to the plate and wiped off, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The image is transferred to paper under high pressure, resulting in a print with a characteristic raised texture. Verburgh’s skillful use of etching captures the scene's atmospheric perspective and delicate details, but also tells us something about the labor involved in producing images during this time. Etching demanded meticulous skill and time, contrasting with today's mass-produced images. By understanding these processes, we can better appreciate the cultural and social values embedded in the artwork.