Deur met trofeeën en schilden 1670 - 1676

François Chauveau made this print of a door with trophies and shields, likely sometime in the mid-17th century. It's an etching, a printmaking technique where acid is used to create the image on a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The appeal of this kind of printmaking resided in its efficiency. Compared to engraving, the process allowed for relatively quick and economical reproduction. You can see the effect of this in the door’s decoration, where ornate patterns are precisely and consistently rendered. This speaks to the rise of print culture and information dissemination, and the commercial opportunities that came with it. Consider also the image itself: a door, a threshold. Printmaking allowed ornament like this to enter the domestic sphere – scaled down, of course – and thereby participate in the construction of identity. It's a reminder that art and craft are always implicated in broader social and political contexts.