Farms, cattle with herdsmen and milkmaids in the foreground from Multifariarum casularum ruriumque lineamenta curiose ad vivum expressa 1559 - 1561

This print, made by Johannes van Doetecum the Elder, probably dates to the late 16th century, and like other works of its kind, it was printed using the intaglio technique. This painstaking process involves incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The fineness of the lines is a testament to the engraver's skill, requiring precise movements and control. Look closely, and you’ll notice how line direction, density, and weight is skillfully applied to convey tone, texture, and perspective. While on its surface this seems like a simple landscape, consider how much work has gone into this piece. Doetecum wasn’t just representing a scene, he was offering it to a market of buyers. Prints like these were increasingly popular at the time, catering to a growing middle class eager to consume images of rural life, maybe as a respite from increasingly urbanized environments. Paying attention to the materials and the making helps us understand the intersection of artistic skill, commerce, and cultural values of the time.