Rivierlandschap met paard aan leidsels 1682

Valentin Lefebvre created this landscape etching in the 17th century, rendering the scene with surprising detail. Look closely, and you’ll see how the network of fine lines creates a sense of depth, shadow, and texture. The etching process involved coating a metal plate with wax, scratching away the lines of the design, and then immersing the plate in acid. This eats away at the exposed metal, creating grooves that hold ink, and when pressed to paper, the image is transferred. The etching medium was important for the production of artworks and dissemination of ideas, allowing for multiples to be produced, and at relatively low cost. You might consider the amount of labor involved in creating such a detailed composition, and the market for images that developed in the early modern period. Lefebvre’s landscape speaks volumes about the culture of its time.