Landschap met hengelaar 1768

This landscape with fishermen was made by Jacob Cats around the late 18th century using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production at the time. To create this image, Cats would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn his composition with a stylus to expose the metal, and then submerged the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. After removing the wax, the plate is inked, wiped clean, and then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The etched line is notable for its relative ease and freedom, allowing for the creation of fine details and tonal variations through hatching, as we can appreciate here. The choice of etching speaks to a rising demand for affordable art, aligning with the burgeoning merchant class and a shift towards accessible imagery. Instead of a unique painting, the artist makes work that can be endlessly reproduced and consumed.