Slag bij Ekeren, 1703 1703

This print, "Slag bij Ekeren, 1703," was made by Jacobus Harrewijn, around the turn of the 18th century, using etching and engraving. These are both essentially linear media, deploying networks of lines to describe form, space, and even texture. The process begins with a metal plate, usually copper, which is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches through the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. In etching, the plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Engraving, by contrast, involves directly cutting lines into the plate with a tool called a burin. Both techniques are labor-intensive, demanding great skill and control. The resulting image shows the disposition of forces during the Battle of Ekeren, part of the War of the Spanish Succession. The print not only commemorates a military event, but also speaks to the broader context of early modern Europe, where battles were won with advanced technologies of image-making as well as weaponry. The image is an artifact of capitalism and emerging globalization.