Gezicht op de Sint-Maartensbasiliek in Luik 1738 - 1744

This print of the Sint-Maartensbasiliek in Liège was made by an anonymous artist. It’s an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. The precision of the lines speaks to the engraver's skill and dedication to accurately depicting the building's architecture. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the stone, the intricate details of the windows, and the play of light and shadow, all rendered through a network of fine lines. Engraving as a process involves significant labor, from the initial design to the final print. The engraver would have needed technical knowledge, and the physical endurance to manipulate sharp tools over long periods of time. It would have circulated as a commodity within a developing capitalist economy, and used as a sign of the city’s cultural significance. Considering this print, and others like it, we understand that the making of images is always deeply connected to social and economic conditions.