Slapende man in een herberg 1723 - 1789

This etching, "Sleeping Man in a Tavern," was made by Jacob Hoolaart in the 18th century. As an etching, its process begins with a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The artist would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then used a sharp needle to draw the composition, exposing the metal beneath. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer the plate remained in the acid, the deeper and darker the lines would be. After removing the ground, the plate was inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The beauty of etching lies in its capacity for detail and tonal variation, seen here in the depiction of working-class men in a tavern. This speaks to the social context of Hoolaart's time, depicting everyday life and labor. The work invites us to consider the skilled work required to produce such an image. It demonstrates a level of artistry easy to overlook.