Gezicht op een deel van de tuinen van Huis ten Bosch after 1717

This print depicts a view of the gardens at Huis ten Bosch, made with etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. The process involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into the wax, exposing the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the image. This allowed for multiple copies of the image to be created, which could be sold to a wide audience. Note the artist of this print is anonymous; one of the effects of etching was to give new opportunities to those who might not otherwise be able to participate in art production. As we consider the artistry, let’s also remember the labor involved in the processes of both maintaining a palace like Huis ten Bosch and in producing images of it like this one. In both cases, social hierarchies are made visible.