Gezicht op het kasteel van Vallery 1631 - 1661

This print, Gezicht op het kasteel van Vallery, was made by Israel Silvestre sometime in the 17th century. It’s an etching, a printmaking process that relies on the corrosive power of acid. Silvestre would have started with a copper plate, coating it with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. Using a sharp needle, he would have drawn the composition, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid, the drawn lines are then ‘bitten’ into the surface. Ink is applied, filling these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. What is so powerful about this process is that it allowed the artist to suggest immense detail with an economy of means. Notice how the artist has created a sense of depth and atmosphere with relatively few etched lines. The printmaking medium allowed for relatively quick reproduction and distribution, catering to a growing market for images of landscapes and architecture. It blurs the boundary between art, craft, and industry, reflecting the increasingly commercial nature of art production.