Verovering van Gibraltar, 1704 1704 - 1713

This print, made by Pieter Sluyter, depicts the capture of Gibraltar in 1704. It is made with an engraving technique, involving meticulous carving into a metal plate. The dense network of lines shows the artist's skilled hand and eye. Consider the labor involved in creating such detail, reflecting a pre-industrial era where craftsmanship reigned. The material qualities of the print itself – the paper, the ink – speak to the growing availability of these materials during the period. Engravings like these served as a form of mass communication, illustrating current events for a wide audience. The choice of such a scene suggests a society keen to glorify military conquest and the projection of naval power. The work's aesthetic value is thus intertwined with the social and political context of its creation. By understanding the materials and making of this print, we gain insight into the values and priorities of the early 18th century.