Gezicht op een boerderij en bomen 1851 - 1913

Curator: This delicate etching, dating roughly from 1851 to 1913, presents a "View of a Farmhouse and Trees." It's the work of Agustín Riancho. Editor: My first impression is one of quiet rural life, a tranquil scene. The detail is really something, considering the medium. You can almost feel the sun on your face there. Curator: Indeed. As an etching, the artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawn through it to expose the metal, and then submerged the plate in acid. The acid bites away at the exposed lines, leaving the image to be printed. Look at how Riancho captures the gnarled branches of the trees—the labor to produce this is considerable. Editor: And it also makes me think about whose farm this was. Was it commissioned by a wealthy landowner, or was it Riancho's own property? It is about landscape and place but who had access to that landscape, who worked it? And how does this piece reinforce ideas about property? Curator: Those are important questions! One has to also consider the accessibility of the print medium. Prints allowed for a wider distribution of images than unique paintings would. This is an etched copy of an agricultural scene. Is it meant for urban dwellers to bring to mind the romance of countryside? Who had access to this image in its time and context, and what purpose did the reproduction serve? Editor: Precisely. Was it intended to document a disappearing way of life as industrialization took hold, or perhaps to promote a certain ideal of agrarian virtue? Did these scenes serve the needs of the dominant political order? Curator: It's compelling how a seemingly simple landscape etching can raise so many questions about production, dissemination, and consumption. Riancho’s attention to detail also indicates something of how he wants us to look at the rural ideal. Editor: Yes. Ultimately, looking at a work like this calls on us to consider both the technical skill and social meanings behind it. Curator: A very pertinent point and reminds us to remain attentive to these factors always! Editor: Agreed. A fitting sentiment on which to conclude.