Landschap met drie herten 1798 - 1837

Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar made this landscape with three deer using etching, a printmaking technique. The magic of etching lies in its alchemical process. A metal plate, likely copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, the drawn lines are ‘bitten’ into the surface, creating grooves. Ink is then forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under immense pressure in a printing press. Look closely at the intricate network of lines creating depth, texture, and light. The varying densities bring the scene to life, from the foreground foliage to the distant sky. It’s important to remember that printmaking was a key technology in the industrial revolution, allowing images to be reproduced and disseminated widely, connecting artistic creation to broader social and economic forces. Appreciating the labor and skill involved in this etching helps us see beyond the image itself.