Delen van de lichamen worden verkocht, 1672 1672

Gaspar Bouttats created "Delen van de lichamen worden verkocht" in 1672 using etching, a printmaking technique. The image starts as a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The artist covers the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws the composition with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. By immersing the plate in acid, the drawn lines are etched into the surface, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Here, Bouttats's skillful use of line and detail shows a disturbing scene, likely intended as a commentary on social injustice or the horrors of war. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the stark reality of the subject matter, devoid of any embellishment. The print becomes a testament to the labor and craft involved in its production, while also reminding us of the critical role that images play in shaping public opinion, and of the relationship between art and social consciousness.