Gezicht op de Abdij van Val-Benoît 1738 - 1744

This view of Val-Benoît Abbey was created by an anonymous artist using engraving, a printmaking technique that has been around for centuries. The process involves carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The fine, precise lines that define the buildings, landscape, and even the texture of the fields, show remarkable skill and attention to detail. The way the artist has manipulated light and shadow through the density of the engraved lines, adds depth and volume to the composition. Engraving like this involved highly skilled labor and a deep understanding of materials. The engraver needed to be proficient in metalworking and understand the properties of ink and paper to achieve the desired effect. By appreciating the labor and material knowledge embedded in this print, we gain a deeper insight into the world it depicts, and the values placed on craftsmanship and precision during the time it was made.