Mislukt poging van het Spaanse leger om de Maas te steken, 1632 1632 - 1699

This print, dating from 1632, by an anonymous artist, captures the Spanish army's failed attempt to cross the Maas River. It was made using engraving, a printmaking technique with a long and skilled tradition. The process involves meticulously cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then transferring the image onto paper under great pressure. In this instance, the image is created from a network of crisp lines, cross-hatching, and subtle tonal variations, defining the forms of soldiers, horses, cannons, and the turbulent river. Prints like these served as news media, offering the public glimpses into significant events. Beyond the scene of military action, it’s worth considering the labor involved – not just the soldiers, but the skilled engraver and the unseen hands that mined and processed the metal, made the ink, and manufactured the printing press. This artwork encourages us to think about how images are made and circulated, and the wide-ranging social and economic systems that underpin them.