Eleven Hounds 1646 - 1647

Wenceslaus Hollar made this print, "Eleven Hounds," using etching techniques. The linear quality of the work results from drawing through a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then bitten by acid. Hollar was a prolific printmaker, and his career reflects the increasing demand for images in early modern Europe. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive, and thus available to a broad audience. Hollar wasn't just creating images, he was participating in a sophisticated system of production and distribution. Consider the number of impressions that could be made from a single plate. The print's graphic quality is interesting in itself. The stark contrast between line and unprinted paper creates a striking visual effect. But it's important to remember that this aesthetic emerged from a very specific set of technical processes, which made this kind of image available to a wide public. Appreciating the work means understanding its place in the history of media, commerce, and labor.