Gezelschap van vijf drinkende krijgslieden bij een haard 1850

Guillaume Joseph Vertommen created this intimate scene of five drinking soldiers using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. The appeal of etching lies in its relative ease. The artist coats a metal plate with wax, then draws through it with a needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid creates incised lines. The deeper the bite, the darker the line. Vertommen has masterfully manipulated this process, using varied line weights to model light and shadow. The final print is achieved by inking the plate, wiping the surface, and pressing paper against it. Prints like these satisfied a growing demand for affordable art. Unlike unique paintings, etchings could be reproduced, making art accessible to a wider audience and reflecting broader shifts in society. By focusing on the materiality and production of this etching, we can appreciate how it embodies both artistic skill and social change, challenging traditional notions of art and craft.