Boerenerf met spelende kinderen 1769 - 1805

Jan Evert Grave created this print, "Boerenerf met spelende kinderen," using etching and possibly other intaglio techniques. Look closely, and you can see the distinctive character of a line bitten by acid. The fine, detailed lines create a scene of rural life, complete with playing children. The printmaking process, involving skilled labor and meticulous work, transforms an everyday scene into a commodity, one that could be reproduced and distributed. The artist becomes a kind of manufacturer, responding to a market for picturesque views of the countryside. Consider the labor involved in producing not just the artwork, but also the scenes depicted – the manual labor of the figures outside of the house in contrast to the leisure activities of the children. Printmaking democratized art, but it also reflected the economic structures of its time. It encourages us to reflect on how art mediates our understanding of work, class, and leisure.