Gezicht op het Hof van Rijnsburg after 1732

Abraham Rademaker made this print of the Hof van Rijnsburg around the turn of the 18th century, using etching and engraving. These are processes that rely on the physical properties of metal, and the chemical action of acid. To create this image, a metal plate was first coated with a waxy ground, then scratched into with a fine needle. This exposed the metal, allowing acid to bite and create delicate lines. Once the etching was complete, the artist would have used an engraving burin to add further detail. Look closely, and you can see how Rademaker used the contrast between the crisp, precise lines of the engraving and the softer textures of the etching to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The process is labor-intensive, requiring both technical skill and artistic vision. The resulting print, like all multiples, brings this vision to a wider public, making the image of Rijnsburg accessible beyond the realm of painting. Appreciating how it was made allows us to consider the social function of this seemingly straightforward image.