Instorten van de Lappentoren te Nijmegen, 1784 1784 - 1785

Mathias de Sallieth made this print in 1784, showing the collapse of the Lappentoren in Nijmegen. The medium is etching, which involves using acid to bite lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. It's a reproductive medium, allowing images to be widely disseminated. Here, the choice of etching has a direct connection to the subject. The Lappentoren, a defensive tower, is shown succumbing to the forces of nature. The etched lines convey the drama of the moment, the crumbling stonework, and the turbulent water. De Sallieth was part of a larger printmaking industry, with specialized workshops that relied on a division of labor. Printmaking like this could be seen as a precursor to modern industrial production. While de Sallieth made art, he also operated within a commercial system of reproduction. This print is therefore a fascinating document, capturing not only a specific historical event, but also the means by which that event could be circulated, consumed, and remembered.