Gezicht op de Oude Kerk te Amsterdam after 1760

This print of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam was made anonymously, using the technique of etching. Etching is an indirect intaglio process, meaning that the image is bitten into a metal plate using acid. The plate is covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and the artist then scratches an image into this ground with a needle. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed metal is eaten away, leaving behind incised lines. The depth of these lines determines how much ink they hold, and thus the darkness of the printed line. Look closely and you can see the precision of the etching technique, which renders fine details, textures and tonal variations, giving the image a sense of depth and atmosphere. This reflects the skilled labor and careful process involved in producing such a print. Although this is a reproducible medium, the artist's hand is evident, blurring boundaries between art and craft. This kind of image helped to promote Amsterdam as a center of trade and culture.