Parklandschap met hert c. 1890

This “Parklandschap met hert” was made by Jan Bos Wz. using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. Here, a metal plate, likely copper, would have been coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratched an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate was dipped in acid, the exposed lines would be eaten away, creating grooves. The more time spent in the acid bath, the deeper the lines. After cleaning off the coating, the plate would be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper was pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Looking at the image, you can see the fineness of the lines created with this process, and the different depths of lines, that create this tonal range. This was a skilled, laborious process, a way to reproduce images, but also a valued art form in its own right. Understanding the material and making of this print gives us a deeper appreciation for its artistic and social significance.