Mannen liggend aan eettafel kijken naar vechtende mannen 1692 - 1714

This engraving, titled "Mannen liggend aan eettafel kijken naar vechtende mannen," was made by Thomas Doesburgh, using the incisive technique of etching. The image is essentially a set of lines eaten into a metal plate, and it is the effect of this unforgiving process that gives the print its particular character. The contrast between the diners at their leisure and the violence of the sword fight is heightened by the stark, graphic quality of the etched line. The level of detail achieved through the technique enhances the theatricality of the scene. The creation of an etching demands a keen eye and a steady hand. The artist would have to apply a waxy coating to a metal plate, draw an image into the wax, and then immerse the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. After removing the wax, the plate would then be inked and pressed onto paper. This indirect, painstaking process is integral to the work's meaning. The artist must be able to visualize the final print at every stage. Thinking about these materials and processes helps us to realize that all forms of art making involve problem-solving, and thoughtful decision making.