Gezicht op de ruïnes van het oude kasteel Kronoberg 1693

Willem Swidde created this print of the Kronoberg castle ruins in the late 17th century, using a process called etching. The etched line is delicate, almost skeletal, and creates a sense of depth and texture. Consider the landscape in the background, which is built up through many layers of hatching. The castle itself is depicted with precision. But the real material interest here is in the contrast between the naturalism of the landscape and the formal lettering surrounding it. Etching had become widespread as a means of circulating images, allowing for the relatively inexpensive reproduction of drawings and paintings, and the sharing of information. This print is of course not just a depiction of ruins, but an assertion of power, with carefully drawn heraldry. The image is a reminder that prints can be important historical documents, telling us as much about cultural attitudes and the economics of image production, as about the depicted subject matter.