Vuur c. 1736

"Vuur" (Fire), an etching by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, depicts two blacksmiths working in a forge. The scene, created in 1736, features one blacksmith hammering a piece of metal on an anvil while the other stokes the fire. The image illustrates the power and versatility of fire, a crucial element in blacksmithing. The use of etching, a technique in which acid is used to create lines on a metal plate, allows for detailed and precise rendering of the figures, tools, and environment, highlighting the realism of the scene. "Vuur" offers a glimpse into the craft of blacksmithing, revealing both the physical labor and the skill involved in shaping metal.