Een roeiboot met vrouwen van een pasja 1837

Auguste Raffet made this print, *Een roeiboot met vrouwen van een pasja*, using etching and drypoint. The resulting image, built up from a dense matrix of tiny lines, conveys a wealth of information about the scene. Consider how different areas of the print display varying densities of line. The areas where Raffet wanted deeper blacks, he applied more pressure to the etching needle or drypoint, creating a tangible texture. The velvety blacks contrast vividly with the stark white of the paper, generating an impressive tonal range. The lines don't just describe form, they speak to the social dynamics of the scene, notably the labor involved. Look at the oarsmen pulling the boat, contrasting their labor with the women being transported, likely part of a Pasha’s harem. The medium of printmaking itself is important here. It democratizes images, making them available to a wide audience, and providing commentary on social structures. The choice of material and method here—etching and drypoint—is inseparable from the image’s power. It reminds us that art is always made by someone, with specific materials, techniques, and a point of view.