Plattegrond van de grafkelder van het Huis Oranje-Nassau c. 1767

Caspar Jacobsz. Philips created this print of the floor plan of the burial vault of the House of Orange-Nassau using engraving techniques. The precision of the engraved lines gives the print its informative character. Philips’ labor-intensive process involved meticulously incising lines onto a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The stark contrast of the black lines against the white paper emphasizes the architectural layout of the vault, the final resting place of the Dutch royal family. Engraving, unlike more gestural drawing methods, demands control and exactitude. This aligns with the desire to document and classify information characteristic of the Enlightenment. The print serves as a visual record, mapping out the space and its contents for posterity, giving the viewer an intimate look into the craftsmanship and history of the House of Orange-Nassau. By considering this floor plan, we begin to blur the lines between fine art, documentation, and craft.