Sterren in de ruimtelijke vortex 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I made this print, "Stars in the Spatial Vortex," using etching techniques sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. The image is built up from a system of lines and dots, which accumulate to create areas of tone, and imply forms in space. The process of etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through it with a needle, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. The plate is then inked and printed. The quality of line is determined by the artist’s hand, the concentration of the acid, and the amount of time the plate is submerged. Leclerc was a master of this demanding technique, and used it here to create a work that seems both precise and mysterious. This print bridges the gap between art, science, and craft, reflecting a moment in history when those categories were not so rigidly defined.