Plattegrond van Leeuwarden met stadsgezicht 1664

This is Jacob van Meurs's "Plattegrond van Leeuwarden met stadsgezicht," created in the 17th century using etching, a printmaking technique on metal. The incised lines, holding the ink, reveal the city's layout. Note the material economy in play. Prints like these were relatively inexpensive to produce, making visual information accessible to a wider audience. The etching process itself is labor-intensive, demanding a skilled artisan to transfer the design onto the metal plate with precision. The matrix is copper, a relatively soft metal allowing for fine detail. This print provides valuable insights into urban planning, architecture, and social structure. Consider the labor that went into creating this image, from the mining of the metal to the printing itself. Through Van Meurs's etching, we see how materials and making intersect with commerce, knowledge, and power. It’s a great reminder that even a seemingly straightforward image is full of social and economic meaning.