Koppelpoort te Amersfoort bij maanlicht 1811 - 1867

Christiaan Wilhelmus Moorrees made this etching of the Koppelpoort at Amersfoort sometime in the 19th century. The etching process itself is crucial to understanding the work. Lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, allowing for incredibly fine detail – look closely and you'll see how Moorrees captures the textures of the stonework and the night sky. The etched line has a graphic quality quite distinct from a drawn line. This process is labor-intensive, demanding both technical skill and artistic vision. Prints like this one were part of an expanding visual culture. Etchings could be reproduced and distributed far more widely than unique paintings, helping to shape a shared sense of place and history. Consider how the artist, through the very act of creating a reproducible image, was participating in a new kind of visual economy. By focusing on the materials and processes behind this print, we can appreciate its place within both artistic practice and broader social trends.