Dorpsstraat met fontein met de aartsengel Michaël 1659

This print, "Dorpsstraat met fontein met de aartsengel Michaël," was created by Lucas Vorsterman II in the mid-17th century, using etching. The linear quality of the image is striking, because the etching process is all about mark-making, using acid to bite lines into a metal plate. Look closely, and you'll notice Vorsterman's skillful use of hatching and cross-hatching to create areas of shadow and depth. This emphasis on line is key to understanding the print's graphic quality, so different from the modulation of tone you would get in a painting. Prints like these were relatively inexpensive and could be circulated widely. In a sense, the technique allowed Vorsterman to mass produce and distribute his vision of this streetscape, offering glimpses into daily life and perhaps even shaping perceptions of Dutch identity. This challenges traditional notions of artistic value tied to unique, hand-crafted artworks. It invites us to consider how printmaking democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience.