Gezicht op een deel van het keizerlijk zomerpaleis in Chengde (Jehol) te China 1712 - 1714

This is a view of the summer palace in Chengde, China, etched by Matteo Ripa, an Italian missionary. It's one of a series of copperplate prints that Ripa made, based on his time in the service of the Kangxi Emperor. The technique of etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. Ink is then applied to the plate and the surface is wiped clean. The ink remains in the etched lines and is transferred to paper under pressure, creating the print. Here, the landscape is meticulously rendered, with delicate lines defining the water, mountains, and buildings. The repetitive, precise work needed for etching speaks to the value placed on craft and skill during this period, and the process allowed for multiple impressions to be made, making the image widely accessible. Ultimately, this print reflects the intersection of cultural exchange, artistic skill, and the dissemination of knowledge in the 18th century. It invites us to consider how images shape our understanding of distant places and cultures.