Zon bij het perigeum 1706

This diagram of the sun at its closest approach to the Earth, called the perigeum, was etched by Sébastien Leclerc I, probably in the late 17th or early 18th century. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into that coating. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed metal is eaten away, leaving behind incised lines. This is a printmaking process, which means that multiple impressions can be pulled. Consider the labor involved in producing this image. Beyond Leclerc’s artistry, there’s the skilled work of preparing the metal plates, inking them, and running them through a press. While etching allowed for relatively quick reproduction, it still demanded a degree of specialized knowledge. The print has the cool precision we associate with scientific diagrams, yet it’s important to remember that even technical images are made by hand, through a collaboration of human skill and industrial production.