Gezicht op de gebouwen van het klooster en de kerk van de Tempeliers te Parijs 1655

Matthäus Merian the Younger made this print of the Templar buildings in Paris, using etching and engraving, and then delicately hand-coloring the result. The linear precision of the architecture, the clean delineation of the clouds, and the topographical arrangement of the figures all speak to the qualities of the printing process. But the application of watercolor adds another dimension. It softens the geometry and gives the scene an atmospheric quality, reminiscent of the landscapes of the period. Prints like this one were not unique works of art, but items made for sale, to be collected in books or framed and hung on the wall. The business model depended on skilled technicians, able to consistently reproduce an image, with just enough handcraft introduced to give each impression a unique allure. This combination of mechanical and manual labor was essential to the print’s appeal – and its economic value. Understanding the labor, the division of tasks, and the wider culture of production is essential if we want to fully appreciate this beautiful image.