IJsgezicht met jager die een otter toont 1742 - 1784

Hendrik Spilman created this etching, IJsgezicht met jager die een otter toont, sometime in the 18th century. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique, a process where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid to create an image. First, the metal plate is covered with a waxy, acid-resistant coating. The artist then scratches through the coating with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which eats away at the exposed metal, creating the lines. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is pressed onto the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. Spilman was a prolific maker of topographical prints and book illustrations, and demonstrates his proficiency of the etching medium here with the level of detail he achieves. He captures a winter scene of people at leisure, offering us a glimpse of Dutch life during this time. In appreciating Spilman’s artistry, we recognize the value in considering the materials and the ‘making of’ the work.