Heilig Huis van de Maagd Maria, orient-zijde 1649

This is Nicolas Cochin’s “Heilig Huis van de Maagd Maria, orient-zijde,” made at an unknown date using etching. The image is made of very fine lines, densely packed together. This texture is a direct consequence of the etching process, which involves incising lines into a metal plate with acid. The level of detail achieved is remarkable, and clearly took considerable time and skill. The composition of the artwork is architectural, but this is illusory: it is all rendered through the precise application of line. The architecture provides a setting for a series of biblical scenes. In both the architecture and the figures, we see a kind of mass production at work – not of actual objects, but of images that could circulate and be consumed by a wide audience. Consider the labor that went into the production of this print – the etcher, the printer, the publisher, and the distributors. The image embodies both fine artistry and a commercial imperative. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images can involve complex social and economic relationships.