Belegering van een stad 1674 - 1733

Jan van Huchtenburg made this print, Belegering van een stad, using etching, a process that democratized image-making in the 17th century. Here, a copper plate is coated in wax, and the artist scratches an image into it with a needle, exposing the metal. Immersed in acid, the lines are bitten into the surface, which is then inked and printed. Look at the density of lines, creating areas of light and shadow. It is through this labor-intensive process that Huchtenburg depicts the power structures of war. He captures the dynamic energy of the scene, from the horses’ muscular forms to the soldiers' movements, immortalizing it on paper. Consider the social context of printmaking. Unlike unique paintings commissioned by the elite, prints could be produced in multiples and distributed widely, catering to a growing market for affordable art. Huchtenburg’s print, therefore, reflects not only artistic skill but also the economic forces shaping artistic production during the Dutch Golden Age. It blurs the boundaries between artistry, craft, and commerce.