Italiaanse haven 1686

This small print, showing an Italian harbor scene, was made by Jan Vincentsz van der Vinne around the turn of the 18th century, using the technique of etching. The artist would have covered a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched his design through it with a fine needle. When dipped in acid, the exposed lines would be eaten away, leaving an impression ready for printing. This was a highly skilled process, demanding complete mastery of both the burin and the mordant. But consider too the wider context: printmaking was crucial to the development of early capitalism. It allowed images and information to be disseminated widely, fueling both commerce and curiosity. Van der Vinne’s atmospheric scene, with its careful attention to architectural detail and bustling human activity, speaks to a world of expanding trade and cultural exchange. We might see this print, therefore, as a carefully wrought product of craft, but also as an artifact of its time.