Gezicht op een Hindoestaanse tempel 1828 - 1874

This view of a Hindu temple in India, made by an anonymous artist, is printed on paper, using a technique called etching. The image is achieved by incising lines into a metal plate with acid, a skilled and time-consuming process. The plate is then inked, and the ink transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. Look closely and you can see how the density of lines creates a full tonal range, from light to dark. The print is a testament to the global reach of printmaking in the colonial era. It was likely intended for a European audience, eager to consume images of faraway lands. Prints like these fueled both curiosity and the commercialization of visual culture, offering glimpses into cultures far removed from the European experience. The labor-intensive process speaks to a broader history of image-making tied to trade, exploration, and cross-cultural exchange. Considering the material and the making of this print underscores how interconnected art, commerce, and culture have always been, challenging any neat separation between ‘art’ and ‘craft.’