Beleg van Arras door de Fransen, 1640 1640

This print, dating to 1640, is an anonymous depiction of the French siege of Arras, and would have been made using a metal plate, likely copper, to produce an etching. Consider the sheer labor involved: the artist would have needed sophisticated drawing skills to survey the landscape. The image then had to be meticulously engraved in reverse onto the plate. Every line is the result of direct, physical action. The image shows how industrial processes and human skills are interlocked. And consider the circumstances of its production – the image shows the French army besieging the city. This would have fueled demand for images, and this print, offered for sale in Rouen, makes plain the close connection between conflict, commerce, and image-making. The print is not just a neutral record, but an active participant in these events. Looking at prints like these, we gain insight into the materials, the making, and the context of this work. We can appreciate how these factors challenge the traditional separation between craft and art.