Bomen aan een plas c. 1827 - 1888

Remigius Adrianus Haanen created this print, "Bomen aan een plas," using etching, a process with a long and rich history. It is essentially a mechanized method of drawing, and that's how Haanen has used it here. The etcher covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then draws through it with a sharp needle. Acid then bites into the exposed metal, creating an image that can be inked and printed. Notice how Haanen has built up the image with short, parallel lines, creating a sense of depth and shadow. It's a time-consuming process, demanding patience and skill. Prints like this were part of a burgeoning market for accessible art in the 19th century. They democratized image-making, bringing landscapes and other scenes into middle-class homes. The very nature of etching – repeatable, reproducible – speaks to the rise of industrialization. This piece reminds us that even seemingly traditional art forms are deeply intertwined with broader social and economic changes.