Drie zittende mannen 1668 - 1671

Jan de Bisschop made this print, "Three Seated Men," using etching, a printmaking technique with a rich history. To make an etching, an artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the metal. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines. Here, de Bisschop's technique is very apparent. We can see the range of linear marks he was able to achieve, varying the depth and thickness to create light, shadow, and a sense of volume in the figures. The controlled bite of acid creates a precise and repeatable image. Prints like these allowed artists to circulate their ideas widely, almost like a form of social media ante litteram. It's an early instance of mechanical reproduction, democratizing image making and allowing for broader dissemination of artistic ideas beyond a single, unique artwork.