Deel van een beschrijving van het Aalmoezeniershuis en het Aalmoezeniersweeshuis te Amsterdam 1693 - 1694

Caspar Commelin created this text-based print, *Deel van een beschrijving van het Aalmoezeniershuis en het Aalmoezeniersweeshuis te Amsterdam*, in the late 17th or early 18th century using etching. This intaglio printmaking technique involves incising lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then pressing it onto paper. Notice how the crisp lines of the text and the detailed letterforms give a sense of precision and order. The process is labor-intensive, requiring skilled craftsmanship to create the matrix, and considerable physical effort to operate the printing press. The dissemination of information through print was a key factor in the rise of capitalism. The physical qualities of the print - its texture, weight, and the contrast between the dark ink and the light paper - all contribute to its aesthetic appeal, and its value as a historical document. By emphasizing material, process, and context, we recognize that printmaking traditions belong to histories of creative practices, aesthetics, and social and economic shifts, alongside the craft of fine arts.