Boerderij met koeien en melkmeid 1559 - 1561

This etching, called 'Farm with Cows and Milkmaid,' was created by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. Engraving on copperplate was a highly skilled practice. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into the metal. Imagine the pressure and control required to achieve such fine detail. The process demanded time, skill, and precision. The print illustrates the cycle of labor in an agricultural setting. The humble milkmaid's task stands in contrast to the technical expertise of the artist who created it. Such imagery became popular as cities grew, and more people were cut off from rural life. Images like this presented an idealized view of the countryside. When we consider the labor of the engraver alongside the image of labor on the farm, we see how prints like this reflect the complex social and economic fabric of the time.