Verwoesting in Delft na de ontploffing van het buskruitmagazijn op 12 oktober 1654 1754

Simon Fokke made this etching, showing the ruins of Delft after a gunpowder explosion, sometime in the 18th century. Etching is a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The material qualities of the metal, the acid's bite, and the paper's absorbency all play a crucial role. Consider how this contrasts with painting. Instead of directly applying pigment, Fokke used a corrosive substance to meticulously remove material, creating a matrix for reproduction. This process speaks to a culture of documentation and dissemination, driven by the demands of an increasingly literate and mercantile society. The labor-intensive etching process allowed for the creation of multiple copies, making the image accessible to a wider audience, and shaping public memory of the tragic event. Fokke’s choice of etching connects this artwork to a broader history of printmaking, craft, and commercial exchange. It reminds us that artistic expression is often intertwined with technological innovation and the social and economic forces that shape our world.