Oefeningen van de schutterij van Dordrecht, 1783 1783

This print of the Dordrecht shooting range maneuvers was made in 1783 by an anonymous artist. Through the process of etching, an image of social life, or a moment of military pageantry has been made. The material qualities of this print, its stark contrasts and fine lines, are dependent on the use of metal plates and acid. Each line is the result of deliberate work. A waxy ground has been carefully inscribed before being bitten by acid, leaving behind an image both exact and evocative. In the scene, labor is represented, not just by the artist, but the soldiers depicted going through drills. These aren't professional soldiers, but members of a civic guard that was more of a social club. Yet the print also suggests a military-industrial complex. Someone had to make those uniforms and manufacture those rifles. It’s important to remember that materials, making and context help us understand the full meaning of an artwork. This etching prompts us to question the relationship between art and society, challenging any strict separation of fine art and craft.