Plattegronden van Viviers, Jametz, Moyenvic en Remiremont, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This print, "Plattegronden van Viviers, Jametz, Moyenvic en Remiremont," was made around 1702 by an anonymous artist, and it gives us a bird’s-eye view of four fortified locations. The images are made by engraving. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a copper plate, and these lines would hold ink and transfer onto paper. The stark contrast and precise lines give us a sense of the strategic planning involved in creating these military outposts. This wasn’t just art; it was a form of information crucial for military planning and territorial control. These aren’t traditional art materials, they're industrial tools. The process of engraving, with its meticulous and repetitive actions, mirrors the labor and careful construction required to build and maintain these fortifications, a testament to the immense efforts put into these strategic sites. So, next time you see a print, think about all the materials and the work that went into it. It's a reminder that art is deeply connected to the social and political forces of its time.