Beleg en inname van Deventer, 1591 1600s - 1610s

Pieter Bast made this print of the Siege of Deventer in 1591, using etching and engraving. These are printmaking techniques dependent on the skilled use of metal, acid, and the printing press. Notice how the lines are meticulously etched or engraved into a metal plate, which would have been a labor-intensive process. The matrix would then be inked, and the image transferred to paper under great pressure. Look closely, and you can imagine the artist carefully guiding their tools to capture this pivotal moment in history. The use of these techniques speaks to a broader culture of information dissemination that underpinned the growing merchant class. This artwork is more than a historical record; it's a product of its time, reflecting economic and social shifts through its very means of production. By appreciating the labor, skills, and materials involved, we gain a richer understanding of both the artwork and the world it represents.