Deuropening met uitzicht op tweede deur Possibly 1726 - 1765

This engraving, "Deuropening met uitzicht op tweede deur", was made by an anonymous artist. Looking closely at the image, one can see that its effects depend entirely on the artist’s skillful manipulation of line. The density and direction of these marks create the illusion of volume and depth; notice the way the closely packed lines around the columns give them a sense of roundness. The medium itself - a metal plate, probably copper - would have required considerable labor to prepare. The artist would have used specialized tools to incise the design, and had to understand printing techniques to get a clean impression on paper. And what do we see in the image? A door, of course – but also, a display of wealth and status. Every line contributes to the sense of classical order, embodying a certain ideal of social hierarchy. The print provides a looking glass into an opulent, unattainable world of elite society.