Drie opmerkelijke gebeurtenissen te Amsterdam in het jaar 1664 1664

This print, Drie opmerkelijke gebeurtenissen te Amsterdam in het jaar 1664, was made in Amsterdam in 1664 using etching. Prints such as this were the newspapers of their day, and required skills in both image-making and typography, along with an entrepreneurial spirit to publish and sell them. The image shows a celestial phenomenon, which has been captured using linear strokes to create a sense of depth, perspective, and tone. The use of etching meant that this image could be reproduced many times over, which democratized information and shifted cultural focus. This print is evidence of a growing middle class with the means to buy such things, as well as an increased interest in scientific observation. The text accompanying the images explains what the viewer is seeing and provides a framework for understanding its significance. Considering the materials, making, and context of this print gives us a better understanding of its significance and challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.