Monument voor de Remonstranten, ca. 1800 1790 - 1836

This is Govert Kitsen’s Monument for the Remonstrants, made around 1800 using etching. As an etching, this work would have begun as a precisely drawn image on a metal plate, after which acid would have been applied to bite away the exposed areas. Ink is then applied to the recessed lines, and the print is made under great pressure. The quality of the final image depends on the evenness of the biting, and the precision of the inking and printing. Here, the monument is delineated in careful detail; a celebration of the Remonstrant movement, a 17th-century Dutch religious faction. The print’s linear quality suits the subject well, evoking the clarity and rationality valued by the Remonstrants. Prints like these allowed for widespread distribution of ideas, contributing to a vibrant culture of debate and discussion. Ultimately, understanding the labor involved in the making of this work – and its role in disseminating particular political views – allows us to see it not just as a picture, but as a potent artifact of social and intellectual life.