Boerin bij een boerenwoning c. 1745 - 1785

This etching, Boerin bij een boerenwoning, was made by Anthonij van der Haer in the 1700s. Using a metal plate and acid, the artist created this image by corroding lines into the metal, creating a detailed view of a rural scene. The material qualities of the printmaking process are crucial to understanding this image, and the way it depicts labor and the countryside. The dense, cross-hatched lines create a rich texture, mimicking the rough surfaces of the buildings, the thatched roofs, and the gnarled tree. Consider the labor involved, not just in the farm depicted, but in the skilled work of the etcher. Each line is a deliberate mark, requiring precision and control. The resulting print, with its subtle gradations of tone, invites us to contemplate the relationship between human effort and the land. By focusing on the material processes and the labor embedded in both the subject and the creation of the artwork, we can appreciate its rich social and cultural significance, moving beyond traditional notions of fine art.