Vertrek van de prins van Oranje uit Scheveningen, 1795 1796

Reinier Vinkeles made this print, "Departure of the Prince of Orange from Scheveningen, 1795," using the technique of etching. The artist would have covered a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched an image into that surface, exposing the metal. Acid was then applied, biting the lines into the plate. After removing the ground, ink was applied and the plate was pressed onto paper. The resulting image captures a fraught moment in Dutch history, and the making process has imbued the artwork with significance. Etching allowed for detailed lines and tonal variations, crucial for depicting the scene's somber atmosphere and the prince's solemn departure, and conveying political messages to a wide audience. The print is not just a picture, but a document produced through skilled labor, reflecting the social and political context of its time. It challenges any straightforward distinction between art and craft, showing how materials and making contribute to the artwork's deeper meaning.