Schutterij van Leiden trekt op naar Grave, 1622 19th century

This print, made in 1622 by Emrik and Binger, depicts the Leiden civic guard marching towards Grave. It's an etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely and you'll notice the fineness of the lines, achieved by drawing through a wax coating on the plate before the acid bath. The level of detail possible speaks to a highly skilled artisan, and a market eager for finely wrought images. Prints like these were not only artistic expressions, but also vital forms of communication. They circulated news, documented events, and shaped public opinion in an age before mass media. In that sense, the print is a multiple, an artwork made for distribution, and consumed as information. The acid biting into the metal plate helped shape the social and political landscape of its time.