Toscaanse zuil 1606 - 1620

This print of a Tuscan column was made by Hendrick Hondius I, around the turn of the 17th century, using etching and engraving. These are intaglio processes, meaning that the lines of the image are cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The print focuses on the technical construction of the column, with its various components labelled and measured. It isn't a depiction of a specific building, but rather a kind of instruction manual. Hondius was particularly known for prints of this type, which circulated knowledge about architecture and design. The dense network of lines creates a sense of precision, but also alludes to the labor involved in both designing and constructing such a column. The modular approach to the column's design mirrors the way it would have been constructed, block by block. By focusing on these underlying systems, Hondius reveals the deep connection between architectural ideals, the labor of building, and the dissemination of information.