Gezicht vanaf het Melkpoortje op Groothoofdspoort te Dordrecht 1803

This print of Dordrecht by Carel Frederik Bendorp, made using etching, brings a very particular set of skills to bear. The process begins with coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then the artist scratches an image into that ground. When acid is applied, it bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines that will hold ink. The deeper the bite, the darker the line in the final print. As you can see, Bendorp has great control of this variable, creating a wonderful range of tonality, which gives the image its sense of space and atmosphere. Prints like these served a booming market for images in the 18th century. They circulated widely, allowing people to experience places they might never visit. Though this is a mechanically reproduced image, it would have been considered a luxury item, purchased by those with enough disposable income to collect them. Thinking about the social context of a print like this reminds us that art is always embedded in a matrix of production, distribution, and consumption.