Winterlandschap met schaatsers 1765

This wintry scene was etched by Rienk Jelgerhuis, likely in the late 18th century. It’s an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, and then printed. The process begins with a prepared metal plate, coated with a waxy ground. The artist scratches through this ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are etched, creating grooves. The deeper the lines, the more ink they hold. After the plate is inked and wiped clean, it’s pressed against paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see how Jelgerhuis varied the pressure and density of his lines to create shading and depth. See the way he used fine, closely spaced lines to depict the sky, and bolder, more widely spaced lines to define the figures and the cracked ice. This print, like many others, enabled the wide circulation of imagery, contributing to shared cultural experiences and even the formation of national identity. It's a beautiful example of how a humble material like copper can be transformed into a vehicle for artistic expression and social commentary.