A Mill by a River, with a Bridge Leading to a Citadel c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Hanns Lautensack's "A Mill by a River, with a Bridge Leading to a Citadel," created around 1553. The etching is incredibly detailed. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Consider the material realities. The printmaking process itself—the labor involved in etching the metal plate, the accessibility of prints to a wider audience than paintings. How does this medium democratize landscape imagery? Editor: That's fascinating. So, the printmaking process itself becomes part of the story, shifting focus from just the scene depicted. Curator: Exactly. It moves beyond mere representation. We must ask: who had access to this image, and how did its creation and distribution impact the understanding of landscape at the time?