Een staande en een liggende koe 1635 - 1704

This print, ‘A Standing and a Lying Cow,’ was etched by an anonymous artist. Etching is an indirect method of engraving. The plate is covered with a waxy ground, through which the artist scratches an image. When acid is applied, it bites into the metal only where exposed by the lines. The resulting print is defined by this process. Look closely, and you’ll see the descriptive lines vary in weight and texture. This is because some areas of the plate were exposed to the acid for longer than others, or were scored with a different tool. The artist had to be attentive to the material of the copper plate, and the action of the mordant. Etching allows for softer and more spontaneous effects than direct engraving. Yet it also requires a deep understanding of how the material behaves under controlled conditions. Ultimately, this print demonstrates that even the simplest image bears witness to a dialogue between the artist and their chosen materials.