Bandieten bij een waterput 1819 - 1823

Bartolomeo Pinelli created this print, "Bandieten bij een waterput," using etching, a process with a long and rich history. Pinelli would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched an image into the coating with a sharp needle to expose the metal beneath. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves hold the ink, which is then transferred to paper under great pressure. Here, the incised lines create a narrative scene of bandits at a well, complete with livestock and weaponry. Pinelli has used line and hatching to create volume, light, and shade. The process is a very direct one; the drawing corresponds closely with the final printed result. What the print lacks in color, it makes up for in its remarkable level of detail. This etching process speaks to the rise of print culture and the democratization of art, allowing images to be reproduced and distributed widely, connecting art to a broader social context, and blurring the lines between high art and popular culture.