Gezicht op de Burcht van Leiden, 1726 1726

This is a print, made in 1726 by an anonymous artist, depicting the Castle of Leiden. It has been made using an engraving process, where the design is etched into a metal plate, probably copper, with a tool called a burin. The making of a print like this one was not just a technical process but a social one. The burin’s sharp lines create a sense of precision, and the layering of cross-hatched marks gives depth and volume to the architecture of the castle. It is also a cultural process, as the artist would have needed to be skilled and meticulous, following a long tradition of printmaking that was crucial for disseminating images and knowledge in the early modern period. The work also speaks to class divisions: on the one hand, the artist and printers making a living by documenting the world, on the other, the wealthy patrons who bought such images to decorate their homes. Paying attention to how an artwork like this was made helps us to understand its role in society, challenging the idea that art is only about individual genius or aesthetic beauty.