Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This is an illustration made by Romeyn de Hooghe, intended for Allain Manesson Mallet’s book ‘The Labors of Mars.’ The print medium allows for exacting detail, evident in the depiction of troops in combat and the geometric precision of the fortress design above. This wasn’t fine art in the traditional sense, but rather a technical drawing, reproduced through the skilled labor of an engraver, making it accessible to a wide audience. The etching technique involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing the design, and then using acid to bite into the exposed lines. This labor-intensive process highlights the craft involved in producing what might seem like a purely functional image. The contrast between the calculated geometry of the fortress and the chaotic scene of battle is quite striking. This print serves as a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of skilled hands, situated within broader social and economic contexts. It blurs the lines between art, craft, and industry.