Drachenfels 1635

Wenceslaus Hollar made this print of Drachenfels castle using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to bite lines into a metal plate. To create this image, Hollar would have covered a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. He then used a needle to scratch away the ground, exposing the metal beneath in the areas he wanted to appear as lines in the print. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. The longer the plate remained in the acid, the deeper the lines would be. Once the etching was complete, the plate was inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate was pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The etching process allowed Hollar to create highly detailed and precise images, capturing the textures and forms of the landscape. The fine lines create a sense of depth and atmosphere, drawing the viewer into the scene. Ultimately, this image reminds us that even seemingly straightforward landscape views are the product of skillful making, deeply rooted in the social and economic conditions of their time.