Gezicht op een deel van de Sint-Janskathedraal te 's-Hertogenbosch 1858

This print of a section of St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch was created by Cornelis Springer, but not with paint, clay, or even a camera. This image was printed using a steel plate. The crisp lines and subtle gradations of tone weren't achieved with a pencil, but by cutting into a hard surface. This is a feat of skill, requiring great control over the burin, the engraver's tool. The image would have been painstakingly incised, the plate inked, and then pressed onto paper. Consider the vast amount of labor involved in the cathedral itself. Every stone was cut and placed by hand, shaped with precision and care. Springer's print reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, handcraft remains essential. It's a potent reminder that every image, every object, carries within it the traces of human effort. Recognizing this shifts our understanding of fine art, revealing its deep connections to craft and the wider world of making.