Jacht op everzwijn en hert 1600 - 1620

Antonio Tempesta made this 17th-century print, “Boar and Deer Hunt,” using etching and engraving techniques. Look closely, and you’ll see that the composition is made up of many tiny lines. These are the result of careful work with sharp tools, cutting into a metal plate. The real skill comes in the printing. Tempesta would have inked the plate, carefully wiped the surface, and then pressed paper against it. The ink held in the etched lines is transferred, creating the image we see. It's a process that allows for multiples, meaning this scene could be shared widely. Prints like this were often commissioned by the wealthy, celebrating aristocratic pastimes. Consider the contrast: the labor-intensive process of making the print versus the leisurely activity it depicts. This tension reminds us that even images of leisure are products of someone's hard work.