Cœnotaphiorum (13) 1563

This print, Cœnotaphiorum (13), was made by Hans Vredeman de Vries around 1600, using engraving. It's a testament to the power of line and tone achieved through skilled metalworking. Look closely, and you will notice the depicted architecture, resembling a grand memorial. It's rendered entirely through the precise, controlled removal of material from a metal plate. The engraver’s tools would have been used to incise lines into the surface, creating furrows that hold ink. The depth and density of these lines create the illusion of light and shadow. This print is not just an image, but an index of the physical labor and technical expertise required to produce it. The artist, a trained draughtsman and printmaker, could disseminate his architectural visions widely. By selling the prints, he could participate in the emerging culture of capitalism, responding to increasing demands for luxury goods among the rising merchant classes. The print thus becomes an artifact of both artistic skill and early modern commerce.