Drie hazen 1815 - 1833

Charles Turner made this print, Drie Hazen, using a technique called mezzotint. It’s a subtle process that involves first roughening the entire copper plate with a tool called a rocker, then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. Look closely, and you can see the effects of this distinctive process. The velvety blacks, the soft gradations of light, and the fine detail of the hares’ fur. These weren't created through quick, gestural marks like you'd see in a drawing. Instead, Turner painstakingly manipulated the plate, working from dark to light. Mezzotint was a popular method for reproducing paintings at the time, so more people could own art. It also required specialized skills and equipment, representing a kind of industrialization of image-making. This print isn’t just a picture of hares; it’s a product of labor, skill, and a changing world of art production. By considering the 'how' of its making, we understand its cultural value.