Gebed voor de veldslag 1718 - 1781

This print, "Gebed voor de veldslag," or "Prayer Before Battle," was made by Christian Rugendas sometime in the 18th century. It's an etching, a type of printmaking where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The etching process allows for detailed, linear work, and Rugendas uses this to full effect. The material of the print is not just the paper and ink, but also the copperplate that bore the image. The acid’s bite into the metal dictates the depth and darkness of the lines, a chemical dance visualized in the final print. The scene depicts soldiers in prayer before a battle, a moment of intense anticipation. By emphasizing the labor-intensive process of etching, we can appreciate the many hours of work that went into creating this image, which may have been circulated widely as propaganda or as a popular print to be collected. This print underscores how art and craft are deeply intertwined with social and political contexts.