Landschap met een stad op een berg langs een rivier 1675 - 1711

This landscape with a town on a mountain along a river was made by Pieter Schenk around 1700 using etching. Here, we see how the controlled, repeatable action of carving lines into a metal plate allows for a specific kind of vision. Notice how the etched line can capture the textures of the natural world, from the feathery trees to the rippling water. But the process itself is not natural. It's about deliberate, controlled labor. The lines, so fine and precise, speak of hours spent hunched over the plate, the etcher's hand moving with practiced skill. Think of the social context: this print could be reproduced and distributed widely. By valuing the labor embedded in the artwork, and understanding its role in a wider system of production and consumption, we gain a richer appreciation for the artistry and its significance.