Het Franse leger op de Plaine de Weill, 1690 1702 - 1703

This print, 'Het Franse leger op de Plaine de Weill', was made in 1690 by an anonymous artist, and shows the French army on the Plaine de Weill. Produced using etching and engraving, the stark monochromatic lines and patterns of hatching articulate a detailed, elevated view of the landscape. A network of precise lines form shapes and patterns that indicate various elements: the French army, and surrounding landscapes, towns, and topography. The act of map-making is significant here. It is a technology developed for wayfinding and navigation, in a world increasingly concerned with commerce and trade. These tools were employed for military campaigns. Note the labor involved in creating such a detailed image, which would have been multiplied many times over. This was a skill, taught through formal apprenticeships and a sign of social mobility. Considering the materials, making, and context encourages us to appreciate how skills are embedded with social and cultural significance, and to move beyond traditional boundaries of art history.