Roman Landscape 

Gaspard Dughet made this landscape in Rome using etching. The effect is achieved by coating a metal plate with wax, then drawing through the wax to expose the metal. Acid is then applied, biting into the metal where it’s exposed. In this artwork, the artist meticulously incised lines into the metal, and the varying depths of these lines allowed for a range of tonal effects when printed. Look at how the texture of the trees has been rendered with such detail. The process demands patience and precision, highlighting Dughet's mastery of the etching technique. The social context of this artwork lies in the burgeoning market for landscape prints in the 17th century, where prints like this one made art more accessible to a wider audience. This print demonstrates that the artistic choices of materials and processes are deeply intertwined with cultural values.