Kloostergang van de Dom te Utrecht 1835 - 1925

Arie Kunz created this print of the cloister of Utrecht Cathedral sometime in the mid-19th century. He used a technique called etching, where lines are scratched into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Consider the labor involved in the creation of this print. The cathedral itself was built over centuries by stonemasons, carpenters, and glaziers, whose skills were passed down through generations. Kunz's etching captures the intricate details of the architecture, translating the three-dimensional stone into a two-dimensional image. But he also adds figures: people of different social classes strolling through the courtyard. In this way, the print becomes a record of a particular moment in time, capturing both the grandeur of the cathedral and the social life that unfolds within its walls. So, in looking at this print, we're not just seeing a picture of a building. We're seeing a record of human labor, skill, and social life, all brought together through the craft of etching.