Verliefd paar 1832 - 1888

Karel Frederik Bombled made this print, Verliefd paar, using etching. The nature of the etching process—biting an image into a metal plate with acid—lends itself to very fine, delicate lines, as you can see here. Consider the effect: the scene is tender, intimate, almost as if it's being whispered to us. It is very much in keeping with the Biedermeier style, which saw the rise of the middle class, who then wanted art not only to entertain, but to touch on sentimental themes of home life. The image is not just a picture, but an imprint; it is pulled from a matrix by hand, evidencing skilled labor. Prints like these played a huge role in shaping cultural and political discourse, often at a more accessible price point than paintings. The materiality and the process is key to understanding the work’s wide appeal, speaking to how artistic expression can be inextricably linked to the social context in which it's created.