IJspret op de bevroren Maas bij Rotterdam, 1784 1784

This engraving of 1784 by Johan van der Spruyt shows a busy day on the frozen Maas river in Rotterdam. The printmaking process itself, etching, is key to understanding the image. The artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, scratched away the design, and then submerged the plate in acid. This eats away the exposed metal, leaving an image that can be inked and printed. Note the many tiny marks needed to create the scene. The fine lines allow for an incredible amount of detail, from the figures skating on the ice to the buildings along the waterfront. The etching process allowed van der Spruyt to create a relatively quick and reproducible image, perfect for distribution and consumption by a growing middle class. The print itself, as an object of consumption, reflects a shift in artistic production, mirroring the burgeoning commercial activity depicted on the frozen river. It serves as a material testament to the era's changing social and economic landscape, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commerce.