Bathseba en de oude vrouw, die de brief van David brengt 1615

This tiny print of Bathsheba, made by Willem Buytewech, shows a biblical scene rendered with incredible detail, achieved through the process of etching. Here, the artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then draws an image into that surface with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid then bites away the exposed lines. Once the wax is removed, ink fills the etched furrows, and an impression can be made on paper. Look closely, and you can see how this process enables a huge amount of linear information to be packed into a small space. Buytewech uses this potential to the full, creating textures that convincingly describe fabric, foliage, and flesh. It's a tour de force of the etcher's art, and shows how a relatively inexpensive medium can be used to dazzling effect. It's a reminder that art’s value, then as now, isn't always tied to the cost of its materials.