The Dutch Raid on the Medway, 1667 1687

Bastiaen Stopendael made this print, The Dutch Raid on the Medway, sometime around 1667 using an etching technique on paper. The etching process involves using acid to cut into the metal printing plate to create the desired image. This printmaking method allowed for the creation of intricate and detailed lines, and we can see it in the depiction of the ships, buildings, and smoke rising from the scene. The material qualities of the print contribute to its stark and documentary aesthetic. Its monochromatic palette gives it a sense of historical distance. The dense network of lines conveys the chaos and destruction of the raid. We can imagine Stopendael meticulously working on the metal plate, carefully etching each line to capture the intensity of the event. In essence, this print serves as a reminder of the labor and skill involved in traditional printmaking, and how the choice of materials and processes shapes our understanding of historical events.