Gezicht op de Prinsenkerk te Rotterdam 1694 - 1695

Johannes de Vouw made this print of the Prinsenkerk in Rotterdam around the turn of the 18th century. The scene is captured through the technique of etching. The artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn the image into the wax with a needle, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. Consider the labor involved in this process. Each line, each detail of the architecture, the figures, the sky, is the result of a deliberate mark. The quality of line, the density of cross-hatching used to create shading, all contribute to the atmospheric qualities of the scene. The final print you see here would have been made by inking the plate and pressing it onto paper. The beauty of etching lies in its ability to capture fine detail and texture, as well as the skilled hand of the artist, bridging the gap between craft and fine art.