Ruiters op een slagveld 1751 - 1816

Reinier Vinkeles created this print of cavalrymen on a battlefield using etching and engraving techniques sometime before 1816. These processes involve covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, into which the artist scratches a design. Acid then bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. The character of those etched and engraved lines defines the image. Notice how Vinkeles uses their varying weight and density to model forms, capture the chaos of battle, and convey a sense of atmospheric perspective. But there's another dimension here too. The printmaking tradition, of which Vinkeles was a master, was critical to the dissemination of information and propaganda. Prints could be reproduced in multiples and distributed widely, shaping public opinion. While seemingly traditional, techniques like etching and engraving have been used to further political and social agendas. The skilled labor required for such a print highlights the intersection of craft, technology, and the circulation of power. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images can have a complex social life.