Zes jachthonden 1646 - 1647

Wenceslaus Hollar created this print of six hunting dogs using etching, sometime before his death in 1677. Etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink, which is then transferred to paper. The magic of etching lies in its capacity to capture fine detail. Look closely, and you'll see how Hollar used delicate lines to define the contours of the dogs' bodies, capture the texture of their fur, and give a sense of their individual personalities. Etching was a key technology for reproducing images, and making them available to a broad public. By mastering this method, artists like Hollar participated in a growing culture of printmaking, which democratized art and knowledge, a shift that resonates even today.