Slag bij Augrim, 1691 1695

This print of the Battle of Aughrim was made in 1691, and like many images of its time, was created through the process of etching. Consider how this method influences the image's appearance. The etcher would have laboriously drawn through a waxy ground applied to a copper plate, then bathed the plate in acid, biting away the exposed lines. Through this repetitive process, they captured the chaos of battle: the smoke, the cannons, the fallen soldiers. This print wasn't just about aesthetics; it was about disseminating information, shaping public opinion, and memorializing a pivotal moment in history. The skilled artisan who made this print would have likely been part of a larger workshop, possibly connected to publishing houses. The print’s sharp lines and mass reproducibility speak to the industrializing forces of the era, where art began to circulate as a commodity. Paying attention to the materials, and the making, allows us to move beyond the image itself, and understand the complex historical context in which it was created.