Landschap met schaap en lam 1739 - 1851

Johannes Janson made this small etching called “Landscape with Sheep and Lamb” sometime in the 18th century. The method here is simple: a metal plate would have been coated with an acid-resistant ground, then scratched into with a fine needle. When the plate was bathed in acid, the exposed metal would be etched, leaving behind an inked image that could be transferred to paper. Look closely, and you can see the physical character of the etched line, which gives the image its unique quality. Each line, each mark, took time and care. And, crucially, the reproductive nature of this medium is not incidental. Etchings like this one played a vital role in disseminating images widely and cheaply. They allowed for broader access to artistic expression, and helped shape public taste. This artwork reminds us that artistic value resides not only in the final image, but also in the process, the labor, and the social context that brought it into being.