Rijpaard naar rechts 1708 - 1717

Dirk Maas created this etching of a horse sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The printmaking process involves a metal plate, likely copper in this instance, and requires a high degree of skill to execute the fine lines we see here. Etching, a printmaking technique, uses acid to cut into the metal plate to create the image, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The material qualities of metal and paper are crucial here, informing the texture and the tonal range of the image. The process is labor-intensive, contrasting the swiftness with which a sketch might be made. Consider the social context: horses were essential for transportation, agriculture, and warfare. By immortalizing the animal in a print, Maas elevates it, while also participating in a burgeoning market for reproducible images. Appreciating the artistry requires recognizing the labor involved, and how the print participates in a broader history of art, craft, and commerce.