Gezicht op Neurenberg, 1726 1726

This print, made in 1726 by an anonymous artist, gives us a bird's-eye view of Nuremberg. It was made using engraving, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you'll notice the incredible amount of labor involved in creating this image. Every line, every detail of the cityscape, the landscape, and the figures in the foreground, had to be painstakingly carved by hand. The burin, the tool used for engraving, demands precision and control. The engraver's skill determined the quality and clarity of the final print. Prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating information and shaping perceptions of cities and landscapes. They were commodities, products of a growing market for images. By understanding the materials, the processes, and the social context in which they were made, we can appreciate the full meaning of this seemingly simple artwork.