Kaart van Brabant 1681

This map of Brabant was created by François Caumartin, using engraving on laid paper. Note the level of detail, achieved by carefully incising the image into a metal plate and then using it to make many impressions. This was an expensive process at the time, and the result would have been considered not only informative, but also beautiful. The linear quality of the engraving lends precision to the map, giving the viewer confidence in its accuracy. The paper itself is also a crucial material here; handmade from pulped rags, each sheet would have taken considerable labor to produce. Maps like this one were luxury goods, available only to those wealthy enough to afford them. They speak of a world being charted and claimed, a direct connection between material culture and political power. This is far more than just ink on paper; it's a view onto the world of its time.