Gezicht op Lenti 1686

This print, "View of Lenti" by Gaspar Bouttats, was made in the late 17th century using the technique of etching. The process begins with a metal plate, likely copper. The etcher coats the plate with a waxy ground, then draws through it with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the drawn lines are bitten into the surface, creating grooves. Ink is then applied, filling these lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Consider the labor involved. From preparing the ground to the precise control needed for drawing and the final printing, each stage demands skill and care. The resulting image, with its fine lines and delicate shading, captures not just the appearance of Lenti, but also the ethos of craft that made it possible. By appreciating the role of materials and making, we see how the print transcends its function as a mere depiction of place. It becomes a testament to the power of human ingenuity, and how this intersects with the wider world.