Kustlandschap met een hoge berg 1612 - 1652

This tiny landscape, etched anonymously, is a reminder that the concept of art has always been intimately tied to process. The method used here – etching – involves coating a metal plate with wax, then scratching a design into it. When acid is applied, it bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind a network of lines. The plate is then inked and printed, transferring the image to paper. The material qualities of the metal determine the fineness of line that can be achieved, and the acid’s action gives a characteristic slightly irregular quality. The print is not just a picture of a landscape, but also a record of a series of actions. Look closely, and you can see the artist’s hand at work in every detail, from the soaring mountain to the tiny figures and cattle populating the scene. In its own way, printmaking democratizes the image. It's a multiple, intended for wide distribution, rather than unique high art. By attending to the making of this modest print, we can appreciate the skill and labor that went into its production, and challenge the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.