Gezicht op Windsor Castle, vanuit het noordoosten 1725 - 1765

This print depicting Windsor Castle was made by an anonymous artist, using etching, a printmaking technique. Here, a metal plate, likely copper, has been coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist would have then used a needle to draw the image, exposing the metal. When dipped in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the plate, which is then inked and printed, transferring the image to paper. Look closely, and you'll see a network of fine lines that define the forms of the castle and its landscape. Etching allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making them available to a broader public, fueling a growing market for topographical views, feeding a sort of early form of tourism. The relative ease of production, compared to engraving, meant that more artists could participate, and more people could consume these images, subtly shifting cultural appreciation. So next time you see a print, consider the craft and commerce that made it possible.