Gezicht op Rostock 1700 - 1800

This is D.V. van de Grave's ‘View of Rostock,’ made using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. An etcher covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratches an image into the ground with a needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. After removing the ground, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the image. This method is inherently reproducible, which explains the print’s slightly documentary quality. It gives us a glimpse of Rostock, likely for a public keen to know the wider world. The composition’s horizontal sweep emphasizes the city’s mercantile activity, with ships dominating the view. It’s a reminder that even the finest art is rooted in the labor and exchange of materials.