Pauwen 1654 - 1662

This print, Pauwen, was made by Wenceslaus Hollar using etching, a printmaking technique, to capture the intricate details of these birds. The magic of etching lies in its process. A metal plate, likely copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. Hollar would have then drawn through this coating with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. Dipping the plate in acid eats away at these exposed lines, creating grooves. The deeper the bite, the darker the line will appear in the final print. Look closely and you can see how Hollar uses a delicate network of fine lines to render the texture of the peacock's feathers. The labor-intensive process highlights the inherent qualities of the etched line, with the varying depths creating a range of tonal values. The precise and skilled tradition of etching, which allowed for mass production and distribution of images, blurs the lines between craft and fine art, making art accessible to a wider audience.