Gezicht op ovaalvormige fontein 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre made this print, "View of an Oval Fountain," using etching, a chemical process of mark-making on metal. Silvestre employed the technique of etching by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then drawing through the coating with a sharp needle. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the metal where the coating had been removed, resulting in an image. The application of this method allowed for the creation of fine lines and intricate details, evident in the depiction of the fountain. The use of line to describe tonal variation, texture and form is very clear to see. The labor-intensive process of etching, combined with the subject matter of an elaborate garden, brings up questions of power and privilege in the 17th century. The creation of such a print would have required considerable skill, and the gardens would have demanded extensive upkeep, reflecting a society with distinct social hierarchies. Prints such as these made art more democratic by multiplying the image. Appreciating the means of production enhances our grasp of an artwork's cultural significance, and helps to dissolve conventional distinctions between art and craft.