Gezicht op de volière van huis Petersburg 1719

Daniël Stopendaal made this print of the aviary at Huis Petersburg using an engraving technique. A design is incised into a metal plate, and then ink is applied so that it fills the lines. The surface is wiped clean, then the print is made with a press. The evenness of the lines, all made by hand, speaks to the engraver's skill. The way the lines are more densely clustered to create darker areas also gives a sense of depth to the image. The final print on paper transforms the incised metal plate into a portable artwork that could be widely distributed, contributing to the circulation of images and ideas. The printmaking tradition, while reliant on skilled hand-work, also reflects the rise of capitalism and the demand for visual media in the 17th and 18th centuries. Paying attention to these materials and processes helps us appreciate the intricate and complex history behind this seemingly simple image.