Berglandschap met ommuurde stad in het dal 1613

Nicolas Moillon made this landscape with a walled city in the valley using etching, sometime in the early 17th century. Look closely, and you’ll notice the whole image is built up from tiny parallel lines, like threads in a woven fabric. This wasn’t drawn freehand. Moillon coated a metal plate with wax, scratched his design into the surface, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bit away the exposed metal, leaving behind fine grooves which would hold the ink. This printmaking process allowed for the easy production of multiple copies. The scene shows a bustling landscape, with figures walking along paths, a walled city in the distance, and a building with laundry hung out to dry. It speaks to a period of increasing urbanization and commercial activity. Ultimately, this etching invites us to consider how art and craft intertwine, reflecting broader shifts in society and labor.