Papegaaien en aapjes bij een tuinfontein 1708 - 1749

This print of parrots and monkeys by a garden fountain, was etched by Peter Casteels III in the first half of the 18th century. The image is made with etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to bite into a metal plate. Casteels would have covered the plate with a waxy ground, then drawn his composition through it with a sharp needle. Immersing the plate in acid would then create incised lines. The resulting design would then be inked and pressed onto paper. The graphic quality of etching allowed Casteels to capture intricate details, like the textures of feathers and foliage. While printmaking might seem a world away from fine art, it actually allowed artists like Casteels to reach a broader audience, distributing their imagery and ideas more widely. This reminds us that all artworks exist within systems of production and consumption. It prompts us to consider the labor, the materials, and the social context that give it meaning.