Neerziende man met hoed 1768 - 1796

Pieter de Mare created this etching of a nearsighted man with a hat sometime in the late 18th century. The image is made by incising lines onto a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The quality of the lines, and the tonal variation achieved through hatching, speaks to de Mare's skill as a printmaker. The etching process, while more mechanical than drawing or painting, requires a deep understanding of materials. The choice of metal for the plate, the etching solution, the paper, all influence the final appearance of the print. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas during the Enlightenment. They were a relatively affordable way to reproduce and share artwork, contributing to a growing culture of visual literacy and public discourse. Here we see the material and the making of the work tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Thinking about the materials and the making helps us understand the full meaning of this artwork.