Rust tijdens de vlucht naar Egypte 1615

Pieter Feddes van Harlingen created this delicate print, “Rest on the Flight to Egypt,” using etching, a printmaking technique dependent on the division of labor. The image is made by drawing with a sharp needle through a waxy ground applied to a metal plate. This exposes the metal, which is then submerged in acid, biting away the lines. The deeper the bite, the darker the line will appear when printed. To make the print, ink is forced into these etched lines, the surface of the plate wiped clean, and then pressed onto paper. The controlled erosion of the metal gives the artist a wide tonal range, visible here in the contrast between light and shadow. This play of light enhances the intimacy of the scene. The multiplication of images through printmaking democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience. The handwork of the artist, the chemical process of etching, and the mechanical process of printing, all combine to bring this image to life, reminding us of the many hands involved in its creation, and distribution.