Landschap met herder met kudde 1620 - 1666

This print, Landschap met herder met kudde, was made by Nicolas Perelle in the 17th century. It's an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, with a sharp tool. The plate was then inked, and the ink transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you can see how Perelle used closely spaced lines to create darker tones, and more widely spaced lines for lighter areas. This was a highly skilled process. Printmaking allowed for the relatively inexpensive reproduction of images, and the dissemination of artistic ideas to a wider audience. The image itself shows a pastoral scene, with a shepherd and his flock moving through a landscape. These idealized images of rural life were popular among the urban elite. This brings up questions about how the realities of agricultural labor were perceived by those who did not have to perform it. Considering the materials, processes, and social context is key to understanding the full meaning of an artwork, and can challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.