Buitenplaats met dronken gezelschap dat aan boord gaat van een trekschuit c. 1757 - 1764

Jean Pelletier created this print of an inebriated company boarding a tow-boat using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. This process allows for fine details and textures, crucial for capturing the scene's nuances. The material quality of the print – its paper, the ink – imbues it with social significance. Prints like this were a form of mass media in the 18th century, allowing for the widespread dissemination of images and ideas. The careful lines and shading give a sense of depth and liveliness, drawing the viewer into the chaotic scene. Pelletier’s skill in using these techniques elevates the print beyond mere documentation. The mode of production here ties into wider social issues of labor and leisure. Creating such detailed prints required skilled labor. Prints like this one reflect the lives of the wealthy, who had the luxury of leisurely boat trips and, apparently, overindulgence. The contrast between the work involved in producing the print and the leisure it depicts underscores the social dynamics of the time. Paying attention to materials and making helps us understand this artwork and its cultural context more deeply.