Gezicht op de Binnen Amstel in Amsterdam 1726

This small print, of the Binnen Amstel in Amsterdam, was made by an anonymous artist using etching. This process involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through it to expose the metal, and then submerging the plate in acid. The acid bites into the metal where exposed, creating lines that hold ink for printing. The character of the etched line is crucial here. Notice its fineness, allowing for intricate detail in the architecture and figures. The print’s monochrome quality underscores its graphic nature, a world rendered in precise strokes. Consider the labour involved: the engraver’s skilled hand, the etcher’s careful application of acid, and the printer’s expertise. Such prints were relatively inexpensive to produce, making them accessible to a wide audience. This connects the artwork to the commercial culture of the time, as prints like these were produced as visual commodities for trade and consumption. It also underscores the fact that what we now think of as “art” was then deeply intertwined with the production of images for a burgeoning marketplace.