Two Peasants Singing
1685
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1685
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows two country people singing with simple joy—one holds a jug, the other claps. The lines are scratchy and rough, like quick pencil marks. Dusart made it in 1685, back when prints were the social media of the day. The real trick here is the drypoint lines. Dusart scratched the plate himself, then pushed ink into the scratches. When printed, those lines look soft and velvety, not sharp. It’s a rough tool for a gentle effect. See it for yourself at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
