Gezicht op huizen langs een rivier in de buurt van Londen 1665

This print of houses along a river near London was made by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1663. Hollar was a master of etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you'll see the intricate network of lines that define the forms and textures. This wasn't about spontaneous gesture, but rather a slow, deliberate process that required incredible skill and precision. The print functions as both art and document. Hollar was interested in topography, capturing the specific character of places. But it also highlights the social stratification of 17th-century England. The grand houses speak to wealth and status, and the quiet river becomes a mirror reflecting the era’s social landscape. By focusing on Hollar's technique and the context in which he worked, we can see how even a seemingly simple image is loaded with cultural meaning, challenging any divide between art, craft, and social history.