Gezicht op de Sint-Wivina-abdij 1726 - 1734

This print, “Gezicht op de Sint-Wivina-abdij,” was made anonymously using the technique of etching. The matrix would have been a copper plate, carefully coated with wax, then lines are drawn through the wax to expose the metal. These lines are then bitten into the surface of the metal using acid. It’s a process that requires meticulous labor, and the result is a delicate, precise image, here used to create an aerial view. This method allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images. The commercialization of printmaking facilitated the spread of knowledge and ideas, but also played into an emergent culture of documentation and record-keeping. In this image, the artist captured not just the architecture of the abbey, but also its surrounding landscape, turning it into a picturesque scene. The visual orderliness speaks to the social order of the religious community itself. Consider that every line in this print, etched with deliberation, contributes to a narrative about faith, industry, and the representation of place.