Voeten en benen 1620 - 1664

This print, "Voeten en benen," or "Feet and Legs," was created by an anonymous artist using the etching technique. The etcher would have coated a copper plate with a waxy ground, then scratched into it with a needle to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away the exposed lines, leaving an image in intaglio. The plate would then be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched recesses. This is a fundamentally reproductive medium, ideally suited for the dissemination of images. Here, the artist has depicted studies of feet and legs, some shod in sandals or boots. The etcher has skillfully used line to suggest the forms of the human body, from the muscular calves to the delicate toes. The work's value resides not just in its aesthetic qualities, but also in its role as a tool for study and learning. This etching reflects the democratizing potential of printmaking, making artistic knowledge accessible to a wider audience.