Ruïne van het fonteintje te Bergen op Zoom 1772 - 1780

Simon Fokke made this print, Ruin of the Fountain in Bergen op Zoom, using etching and engraving techniques. These methods involve using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The fine lines and details capture the textures of the ruined fountain and the surrounding landscape. The process itself, requiring precision and control, mirrors the ordered, formal gardens that were popular in the 18th century. Yet, what is captured here is a ruin, not an orderly monument, as the industrial revolution in this era shifted away from handcrafted goods. The print's creation involved skilled labor, from the artist to the printer, reflecting a system of production and consumption. While the image depicts leisure and refinement, the print itself is a commodity, circulated and consumed within a growing market for images. Considering the materials, making, and context reveals the complex meanings embedded in the artwork. It challenges the distinction between fine art and craft, and highlights their interconnectedness within a broader social and economic landscape.