Waverveen, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672 1672 - 1676

Isaac Sorious made this print depicting the town of Waverveen destroyed by the French in 1672, using ink on paper. The material is humble, but the marks made by the artist, aren’t. Etching and engraving are laborious processes; the image is incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto the page. Look closely, and you can see how Sorious used thin, precise lines to convey the devastation, and the architectural layout of the town. The choice of printmaking as a medium suggests a desire to disseminate this image of destruction widely. The print becomes a form of historical record, one that emphasizes the labor involved in rebuilding and resilience. It challenges traditional notions of what constitutes high art by engaging with social and political themes. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we gain a deeper appreciation for the print's meaning and its significance beyond conventional art historical boundaries.