Goatherd on the Hill c. 17th century

Editor: This is Allart van Everdingen's "Goatherd on the Hill," an etching. It feels very detailed and immediate. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Considering Everdingen's landscapes, think about the material conditions of 17th-century Dutch printmaking. How does the etching process, with its reliance on metal plates and acid, influence the kind of landscape depicted? Editor: That's interesting. It highlights the labor involved in producing these images. Curator: Exactly. And consider the consumption of these prints. Were they luxury items, or were they more widely accessible? This also reveals social context. Editor: I see. So, it's not just about the idyllic scene, but the whole system that made it possible. Curator: Precisely. Thinking about it, the printmaking process itself shapes our understanding of the scene. Editor: That’s made me rethink my initial impression completely.