Rivierlandschap met vrouw en kind en man te paard c. 1630 - 1640

This landscape with figures was made by Gerrit Soudaen using etching, a printmaking technique with a fascinating relationship to labor and class. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drawing their composition with a sharp needle to reveal the bare metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was then applied into these lines, and the plate pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Notice how the etched lines give form to the landscape, from the figures and houses to the trees, sky and water. The technique allowed for a remarkable level of detail. Etching democratized image-making, as multiple impressions could be made, reaching a wider audience than unique paintings. The image is evocative and idyllic, yet made possible by a process rooted in industrial chemistry. By understanding the materials and methods, we can consider the wider context of artistic creation, challenging any separation of 'high art' and more workaday practices.