Boeren bewerken het land naast de ruïnes 1699 - 1740

This print, ‘Boeren bewerken het land naast de ruïnes’, was made by Franz de Paula Ferg using etching. This intaglio printmaking technique involves using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which then holds ink. The character of the etched line is crucial to the image’s effect. Look closely, and you’ll see how Ferg varies the density and direction of the marks to create a sense of volume and texture. The arduous labor of the farmers is mirrored in the work involved in creating the print. The figures almost seem to emerge from the landscape, formed from the same stuff. The choice of etching, rather than say, painting, also implies something about the social status of the image. Prints like this were relatively accessible, not unique objects like paintings. The artist’s choice of subject – peasants working the land – further suggests an interest in everyday life, far from the realm of grand historical narratives. Ferg's mastery of the medium transforms a scene of labor into a work of art, inviting us to consider the value and dignity of everyday life.