Gezicht op Würzburg 1740

Johann August Corvinus made this view of Würzburg using engraving, a printmaking process with a long and rich history. The image is created by carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Engraving demands precision and skill, reflecting a culture of craftsmanship. The fine lines capture an astonishing amount of detail, from the architecture of the city to the sky above. Consider the labor involved in this detailed process, a painstaking method that highlights the value placed on skilled handwork in the 17th and 18th centuries. The resulting print could be reproduced, and circulated widely, a move towards democratizing art. This combination of craft, precision, and wider distribution challenges traditional notions of art, and reminds us to appreciate the materials, process, and cultural context of art making.