Ruïne van de Grote Kerk te Bergen op Zoom, 1747 1783 - 1795

This print, Ruin of the Grote Kerk in Bergen op Zoom, was made by Reinier Vinkeles in 1747. It’s an etching, an intaglio printmaking technique, where the artist uses acid to cut into the metal plate. The lines you see were created by the acid biting into the metal, holding the ink and transferring it to the paper. What I find fascinating is how Vinkeles uses this fairly delicate medium to portray a scene of such devastation. He captures the crumbling architecture of the Grote Kerk, a ruin resulting from conflict and war. The precise lines of the etching, typically used for detailed and refined imagery, here depict destruction and chaos. Consider the labor involved: the careful application of the acid, the precise timing, and the physical work of printing. The act of creating this image becomes a poignant commentary on the human cost of conflict. It challenges our perception of printmaking as merely decorative, highlighting its potential as a medium for social commentary.