Landschap met man en vrouw met ezel 1613 - 1666

This etching, “Landschap met man en vrouw met ezel”, was made in the 17th century by Nicolas Perelle. Its monochromatic palette is achieved through the precise and careful use of line. Perelle was a master of etching, a printmaking technique where a metal plate, usually copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then draws through the ground with a sharp tool, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Finally, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. When pressed onto paper, the ink transfers, creating the image. The final print depends entirely on the hand of the engraver. Perelle’s skillful manipulation of line weight and density creates a wide range of tonal effects, from the dark, shadowed areas of the foreground to the lighter, more atmospheric background. The amount of time and skill involved is evident in the final print. Perelle's print demonstrates how a so-called "fine art" is nonetheless reliant on the manual skill of a practiced hand.