Gezicht op het paleis van Madame de Lesdiguières 1652

This print, "View of the Palace of Madame de Lesdiguières in Grenoble," was made by Israel Silvestre sometime in the 17th century. Silvestre was a master of etching, a printmaking process that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines in a metal plate. Look closely, and you can see how Silvestre deployed a tight network of fine marks to describe the grand architecture and figures in the foreground. Notice also the dramatic landscape in the distance, which required a different approach to the etching process. Silvestre was not just representing a building; he was also performing his skill, showing off the range of effects that could be achieved through controlled application of acid, and skillful inking and printing. Prints like this one were not "fine art" in the traditional sense. They were a means of circulating images and information, showcasing places like the Palace of Madame de Lesdiguières to a wider audience. The artistry is embedded in the process itself.