Landschap met reizigers en ruiters 1843 - 1880

This etching, Landschap met reizigers en ruiters, was made by Jan Karel Jacob de Jonge in the 19th century. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique; the design is bitten into the metal printing plate with acid. This kind of printmaking allowed for relatively quick reproduction, and with its monochrome lines, mimics the effect of drawing. Notice the network of fine lines, and the build-up of hatching that creates areas of shade. The artist created these lines with careful labor, using a sharp tool to draw through a wax coating on the plate, exposing the metal underneath. He then immersed the plate in acid, which bit into the metal only where it was exposed. The etched lines communicate not only the overall scene with travelers and riders in a landscape, but also the textures of fabric, the musculature of the horses, and the patterns of light. This print’s social context speaks to the rise of print culture, offering art to a wider audience than ever before. De Jonge’s masterful handling of the etching process transforms a common material into an enduring work of art.