Gezicht op Roosendaal 1786

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this print of Roosendaal sometime in the 18th century, using etching and engraving. The print's fine lines give a sense of the town's architecture and social life. The precision of the etching shows a real mastery, but it was also a very reproducible medium. The making of prints like this was part of a growing industry; they were relatively inexpensive to produce and buy, making images accessible to a broader public. This connects to larger economic shifts, where art moved from unique commissions to more widely available items. Considering this print, and others like it, forces us to think about how art is not just about individual genius, but also about labor, production, and consumption, therefore challenging traditional distinctions between art and craft.