Zintuig gezicht 1581 - 1656

This engraving, "Zintuig gezicht," was made by Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Dutch artist, sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries. The work is a print, meaning that the image was first incised into a metal plate, likely copper, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. The incised lines create the image, using hatching and cross-hatching to define tone and form. The material, copper, is crucial here; its hardness allows for fine detail, while its capacity to hold ink ensures a clear impression. Look closely, and you’ll see the dense network of lines that give the print its character. Engraving demanded highly skilled labor. De Bruyn would have served a long apprenticeship to master the techniques, and the final prints would have been relatively valuable, circulating among a discerning, well-to-do audience. Considering the labor that went into it, the print offers insight into the economic landscape of the time. The print's intimate scale invites close looking, urging us to appreciate the craft and the context in which it was made.