Gezicht op Enköping en Norrtälje 1695

Erik Reitz made this print of Enköping and Norrtälje, capturing both towns in meticulous detail with the intaglio process of engraving. Here, the sharpness of the engraved line is everything. Look closely at the upper portion of the print, the buildings of Enköping rise on the horizon, achieved with careful hatching and cross-hatching. The same technique defines the ships that are on the waters in the lower portion of the print. See how Reitz, in his role as a skilled artisan, uses the engraver's burin to translate three dimensions onto a two-dimensional plane. Prints like this one were more than just artworks; they were vital forms of communication, spreading knowledge and shaping perceptions of places near and far. Think of the labor invested, not only by Reitz, but also by the papermakers, the printers, and all those involved in the distribution. By recognizing this rich context of making, we move beyond seeing this print as a simple image, and understand it as a product of intricate, historical, cultural forces.