Gezicht op de Heilige Stede (Nieuwezijds Kapel) te Amsterdam 1685 - 1726

This print of the Nieuwezijds Kapel in Amsterdam was made by Daniël Stopendaal sometime around the turn of the 18th century, using etching and engraving. Look closely and you’ll see the textures created by the artist's hand. The scene is built up from a dense network of hatched lines, which must have taken meticulous work with a burin. Note the varied weights of the lines, carefully controlled to create shading and a sense of depth. Prints like these were a booming industry in Stopendaal's time, a way of visualizing cities for an increasingly literate and mobile public. What sets this print apart, however, is its delicate craft, and we can appreciate the subtle artistry involved in its making. The print is a reminder that even in mass production, the hand of the maker leaves its mark.