Herder en herderin rusten onder een boom, nabij Mannheim c. 1784 - 1788

Jeanne Deny made this print of a shepherd and shepherdess resting near Mannheim using etching. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating called a "ground." Using a sharp needle, they would then scratch away the ground to reveal the metal underneath, drawing the image in the process. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating the etched lines. The resulting image is a direct record of Deny's labour, as each delicate stroke required focused, skilled handwork. The composition itself speaks to broader social themes; these figures, who through their clothing are clearly of a higher social status, are temporarily taking on the guise of laborers, resting alongside a man and woman who are actually at work. Prints like this were widely circulated, playing a crucial role in shaping and disseminating cultural values. Looking closely at the materials and making of this etching allows us to understand how artistic techniques and aesthetic preferences connect with social structures, labor, and the circulation of images in society.