Familie in landschap 1658 - 1719

Nicolas Guérard created this print, “Family in Landscape,” using etching. It’s a process where the artist covers a metal plate with wax, scratches an image into the wax, then dips the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. Etching is inherently reproducible. Unlike a unique painting or sculpture, this print could be editioned for a growing art market, making it available to a wider audience. It’s all about line, and Guérard uses it to give a great sense of depth – look at how the density of marks increases in the shadows. Notice how the landscape recedes into the distance, layers building up into the background. The subject reinforces this sense of removed calm. A family reclines in the foreground, while more figures traverse the middle ground. The print isn’t just about what it depicts, but also about how these landscapes were being circulated, consumed, and valued in Guérard’s time. So, the next time you see a print, remember that it's not just an image, it's a product of a specific economic and social moment.