Gezicht op de kathedraal van Lyon 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre made this print of Lyon Cathedral using etching, sometime in the 17th century. The image is a network of fine lines, dug into a copper plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you'll see that it's not just a straightforward depiction. Silvestre has played with perspective, compressing the space between the cathedral and the surrounding buildings. This gives the image a dense, almost claustrophobic feel, reflective of urban life at the time. Note also the figures in the foreground; they provide a sense of scale, but also remind us of the human activity that animates the city. Silvestre was part of a generation of printmakers who turned the built environment into a commodity. Prints like this were sold to a wide audience, fueling a growing interest in travel and urban life. So, while the etching process is relatively simple, the image speaks to a complex web of social and economic forces.