Kaart van het bisdom Doornik 1697 - 1719

This is an anonymous map of the Bishopric of Tournai, made through etching, a printmaking technique with a long and fascinating history. The process begins by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The mapmaker then scratches their design into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the inked design. Look closely, and you can see the fineness of the etched lines. The overall effect is crisp and precise, perfectly suited for capturing geographical detail. Yet beyond its aesthetic qualities, the etching technique has social significance. It was a relatively accessible method of printmaking, allowing for the wider dissemination of knowledge and information. This map, therefore, is not just a visual representation of space, but also an artifact of a particular moment in the history of technology, labor, and the spread of knowledge.