Dame te paard met valk op de hand 1825 - 1883

This etching of a woman on horseback with a falcon, was made by Theodoor Schaepkens in the 19th century. The medium itself, etching, is critical to understanding the image. It is an intaglio process where a metal plate, typically copper or zinc, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then draws through this ground with a pointed needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The depth of these grooves determines the darkness of the lines in the final print. After removing the ground, ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and the print is made by pressing paper against the plate, transferring the ink from the grooves to the paper. Consider the labor involved in the entire process, from the preparation of the plate to the final print. Processes like these give us insight into the amount of work involved in image making before industrialization. It challenges any strict division between art and craft.