Landschap met ruïne en diverse bouwwerken op de achtergrond 1675 - 1683

This landscape, made by Jean Baptiste Brébes, is an etching. The controlled fading of etched lines creates both depth and an overall atmospheric effect. To create this print, the artist coated a copper plate with wax, then used a sharp needle to draw this scene, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid, the drawn lines were ‘bitten’ into the surface. Ink was then applied, filling the etched grooves, and the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Etching enabled Brébes to achieve remarkable detail. Look closely at the gradations of light and shadow, and the intricacy of the architectural ruins, which suggests his control of the etching process. But beyond the virtuosic technique is the social context it implies. Printmaking allowed for the wide dissemination of images, fostering an appreciation for landscape and antiquity among a broader audience. This piece stands as a testament to the democratization of art through its very means of production.