Slag bij Lützen 1632 - 1650

This print depicting the Battle of Lützen was created by Matthäus Merian the Elder, sometime in the 17th century. It’s an etching, meaning the artist would have used a sharp needle to draw this incredibly detailed image into a copper plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. The real subject here is the process of image-making itself. Look closely and you’ll notice that the thousands of tiny figures are all constructed from simple hatched lines. These are made with incredible precision. Every mark is intentional; the density of the lines creates areas of shadow, giving depth and volume to the chaotic scene. Merian was a master printmaker, and his workshop produced countless images for books and broadsides. This print gives us insight into the labour involved in image production during the early modern period, before industrialisation transformed the art world. The very act of creation is a testament to human skill and ingenuity. Approaching it in this way allows us to challenge assumptions about artistic creation.