Oorlog met de bisschop van Munster, 1665 1782 - 1784

This print, made by Simon Fokke sometime before his death in 1784, depicts the war with the Bishop of Munster in 1665. It's made using the intaglio process, which is to say, it is an image incised into a metal plate. The material of the print – paper – is of course derived from plant matter, processed and pulped to receive the fine lines etched into the metal plate. These lines would have been cut with a sharp tool, or bitten into the surface with acid. The plate would then have been inked, wiped clean, and pressed firmly onto the paper, leaving this image behind. The process has imbued the artwork with a sense of precision and detail. The print would likely have been made for dissemination to a broad public, bringing news of current events, and shaping public opinion. This brings up issues of labor: not just Fokke’s, but that of all the anonymous makers whose efforts made this image possible. Considering all of these aspects – material, making, and context – helps us understand the full meaning of the artwork and its social impact.