De vier getijden des jaars 1806 - 1830

Johan Noman created “The Four Seasons” using etching, an intaglio printmaking technique. Here, a metal plate, likely copper, would have been coated with a waxy substance, through which the design was then scratched. The plate was submerged in acid, biting away the exposed lines. This process creates grooves in the plate that hold ink, before being printed onto paper. The distinctive line work of the print comes from the etching process itself, each delicate stroke a testament to Noman's skill. Note the way he evokes texture – the density of the crops, the rough bark on the trees, the play of light on the thatched roofs. Prints like this are tied to the rise of a market economy. They could be produced relatively quickly, and sold in multiples. So, consider this print not just as an aesthetic object, but as a document of its time. It shows us how art was being made, distributed, and consumed.