Omlijsting voor Freminet 1724 - 1777

Etienne Fessard created this Omlijsting voor Freminet using etching, a printmaking technique, in the 18th century. The image is made by drawing into a prepared wax ground on a metal plate with a sharp needle, which exposes the bare metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the metal where exposed, creating recessed lines. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. Consider the material properties and processes, like the biting of acid into metal and the transfer of ink to paper, and how they influence the image's fine lines and subtle tonal variations. Also think about the labor involved in producing this etching, from the preparation of the plate to the printing of the final image. The social context of printmaking is important, too; it allowed for the wide distribution of images and ideas, contributing to the growth of visual culture and knowledge dissemination in the 18th century.