Vlakdecoratie, bestaande uit een wapentrofee 1572

This print of weaponry was made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. It is made by etching, a process by which lines are incised on a metal plate with acid, and then filled with ink and printed onto paper. The crisp lines and high contrast of the print allow for a remarkable level of detail. Look closely, and you will see cannons, gunpowder barrels, and other instruments of warfare, each meticulously rendered with careful attention to texture and form. This image testifies to the sophistication of early modern military technology, and also to the skill required to produce such a print. The printing process, a form of industrial production in its own right, allowed for the mass dissemination of images like this, fueling both the market for luxury goods and an ongoing fascination with the technologies of war. By attending to the materials and making of this print, we gain insight into the relationship between art, industry, and society in the early modern period.