Gezicht op Veszprém 1686

This print, *View of Veszprém*, was made by Gaspar Bouttats sometime in the late 17th century. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper. Ink was then applied to the plate and the excess wiped away, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, paper was pressed against the plate to create the print. Engraving was a highly skilled process, requiring years of training to master the use of specialized tools to create lines of varying thickness and depth. The printmaking trade was closely tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Creating a print like this involved the labor of multiple individuals, from the artist who designed the image to the engraver who translated it into metal, the printer who operated the press, and the publisher who marketed and distributed the finished product. By understanding the materials, making, and context of this print, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the skilled labor and social networks that made such images possible.