Vier familiewapens 1774

Johanna Dorothea Sysang made this print of four family crests using etching. The etched lines are crisp and precise, which gives the coats of arms their formal appearance. Etching is an indirect method of printmaking where a metal plate, often copper or zinc, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Once the ground is removed, the plate is inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed against paper, transferring the image. The process of etching is labour intensive, and it suggests that these crests are not only symbols of privilege, but also emblems of a highly skilled form of production. Sysang’s delicate handling of the etching needle brings attention to the level of craft involved in producing these heraldic images. This elevates our understanding of these crests beyond mere displays of wealth and power, revealing them as products of human ingenuity and technical mastery.