Landschap met rustende herders en ossen 19th century

Achille Parboni’s "Landschap met rustende herders en ossen" or "Landscape with resting shepherds and oxen" was made with etching, a printmaking technique using acid to cut into a metal plate, which then holds ink. The choice of materials and process profoundly shapes the image. Notice the fineness of the lines, achieved by dragging a needle across the metal surface. Etching allows for detailed tonal variations. It requires a high degree of skill to control the depth and quality of the etched lines, and the inking and printing process. The image depicts farm laborers in a landscape setting with a horse and oxen, a compositional trope from antiquity and early modern Europe. The artist likely studied previous prints and drawings to achieve this effect. The print medium also allows this image to be disseminated widely, creating more demand for similar subject matter. Ultimately, by considering the materials and techniques, we can grasp the blend of skillful labor, artistic intention, and the commercial landscape that brought this image into being.