Gezicht op gebouwen en een ronde toren aan een oever 1806 - 1821

Domenico Quaglio made this etching of buildings and a round tower by a bank, likely in the early 19th century. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant material, then scratching an image into that coating. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed metal is eaten away, creating lines that will hold ink. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The material properties of the metal and acid allow for incredibly fine detail, as we see in the dense network of lines describing the architecture and landscape. This painstaking process speaks to a culture of careful craftsmanship and skilled labor, contrasting with today's mass production. Paying attention to the etching process emphasizes the artist's labor, and the cultural value placed on skilled handwork at the time. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex interactions between materials, techniques, and social values.