Plattegronden van Stenay, Mirecourt, Dieuze en Moyenvic, 1726 1726

This print from 1726, by an anonymous artist, gives us a bird’s eye view of four fortified cities. It's made from engraving, a process that uses metal plates to transfer an image onto paper. The engraver would have used sharp tools to carve lines into a metal plate, which was then inked. The ink sits in the incised lines, and when paper is pressed against the plate, the image is transferred. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines that define the buildings, walls, and landscapes. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, requiring precision and patience. The technique was used to reproduce images for a wide range of purposes, from scientific illustrations to maps like these. In this case, the print serves a very practical purpose, documenting the infrastructure and defense of these four cities. The act of engraving endows these maps with a sense of authority, precision, and permanence. It elevates functional, technical drawings to the level of art. The work reminds us that even the most utilitarian objects are embedded with cultural meaning and craft skill.