A Convent, plate 13 from "Regiunculae et Villae Aliquot Ducatus Brabantiae" 1605 - 1615

This print, "A Convent," was made by Claes Jansz. Visscher, probably in the early 17th century, using the technique of etching. He would have coated a copper plate with wax, then scratched an image into the wax with a fine needle. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The result? An image that is both delicate and precise. The etched line is finer than what you'd get with an engraving, allowing for subtle gradations of tone. See how Visscher evokes the atmosphere of the landscape with simple, repetitive marks. Prints like this were made in multiples, of course. It was a technology that democratized image-making, allowing for the wide distribution of landscapes, portraits, and scenes of everyday life. This print provides a glimpse into the world of the Brabant region, now part of the Netherlands and Belgium, at a time of significant social and political change. It reminds us that art is not just about individual expression, but also about the technologies and economies that make that expression possible.