Landschap met boerenwoning 1810 - 1864

Jacques Van Gingelen made this etching, "Landscape with Farmhouse," sometime in the 19th century. The etching process itself involves applying acid to a metal plate to create an image. It's an indirect process; the artist scratches an image through a wax coating, then bathes the plate in acid. The acid bites into the metal where the wax has been removed, creating recessed lines that hold ink. The result is a print with a unique character, line work that has a delicate, almost feathery quality. The acid does the work of defining each line, imbuing the scene with a subtle texture. It also implies a certain detachment, a separation between the artist's hand and the final print, unlike the directness of a drawing. Van Gingelen's choice of etching speaks to a moment when printmaking was becoming increasingly important, both as a means of artistic expression, and of communicating a sense of place. Considering the work involved in etching, this print is less about pure artistic skill, and more about the cultural value of landscape imagery.