Titelblad til "Handelsmagazin for Island", 1. del 1787

This is the title page for the first volume of "Handelsmagazin for Island," created in 1787 by Frederik Ludvig Bradt. It's an etching, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, then printed. The technique is all about line—look at the crisp, precise details. Notice the animals, the landscape, even the figures at the bottom, all rendered through careful, controlled cuts. The density and direction of these lines create shading and texture, giving depth to the scene. But this isn't just about artistic skill. The very act of etching speaks to the rise of mercantile capitalism. Printmaking allowed for mass production of images and text, essential for disseminating information and promoting trade. This title page, made with a labor-intensive process, is itself an advertisement for Iceland, hinting at its natural resources and the people involved in its economy.