Kyststrækning med fæstning og klipper 1651 - 1652

Reinier Nooms created this etching, "Coastal landscape with fortress and cliffs," in the mid-17th century. Nooms, who was also a sailor, used a metal plate and acid to create this print. The acid bites into the metal, creating lines that hold ink, and the pressure of the printing press then transfers the image to paper. The etching medium is important to the artwork's appearance. With closely placed lines, the image shows the coastal landscape, the fortress on the rocks, and the figures on the beach. Etching was a commercial medium, used to disseminate images widely and relatively cheaply. This print gives us a glimpse into the world of maritime trade and labor, with men hauling goods, ships sailing off, and a fortified city in the background, all made possible by the skilled labor of the artist and printer. By understanding the materials, processes, and social context of this artwork, we can appreciate its full meaning and challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.