Slag bij Gemblours, 1578 1670 - 1699

This print, depicting the Battle of Gemblours, was made by Romeyn de Hooghe around 1678. It's an etching, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked to produce an image. The dense, detailed texture is a direct result of this method, where the artist has created a vivid scene of conflict with countless tiny marks. The medium is inextricably linked to the subject matter: the very idea of using this graphic method, which allows for the relatively efficient multiplication of images, is linked to the wider social impact of war, and the need to circulate imagery relating to it. This detailed print testifies to a society increasingly fascinated by current events, and to the rise of a market for visual information. The work also highlights the way the production of images of military events has transformed, becoming much more widespread with the rise of capitalism and the expansion of print culture.