Stadsgezicht met een bouwwerk aan een plein 1815 - 1875

This cityscape was made by Antonie Vink Tollenaar in the 19th century, using engraving. It is a printmaking technique where an image is incised onto a plate, usually made of copper. The fine lines and details you see are the result of Tollenaar carefully cutting into the metal with a tool called a burin. The incised lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure, creating the print. The choice of engraving gives this cityscape its distinctive character: the stark contrast, and the precision with which the buildings and figures are rendered. It speaks to an age where meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail were highly valued. The image is a testament to Tollenaar’s skill, but also to the broader culture of printmaking, which made images accessible to a wider audience. By focusing on the material process, we can appreciate how the technology of printmaking shaped both the appearance and the circulation of this 19th century view.