Berglandschap met fort 1655 - 1688

Govert van der Leeuw created this tiny landscape using etching, a printmaking technique. A metal plate, likely copper, was coated with a waxy ground, and then the artist would have drawn through the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves hold the ink that, when pressed onto paper, forms the image. Note the varied line work, from delicate hatching to bold outlines. This demonstrates van der Leeuw's control over the etching process, manipulating the depth of the lines to create tonal variation. The labor involved in etching is considerable, demanding both technical skill and artistic vision. This image, though small, speaks to the broader context of printmaking as a means of disseminating images and ideas widely in seventeenth-century Europe. Appreciating the process allows us to see beyond the image itself, understanding the print as a product of skilled labor and technological innovation.