Aanzicht van Paleis Honselaarsdijk aan de westzijde Possibly 1696 - 1774

This print, made by Cornelis Danckerts II, depicts the Paleis Honselaarsdijk. It was fabricated using etching, a printmaking process in which a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The design is then scratched into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When acid is applied, it bites into the exposed metal, creating an image that can be inked and printed. The fineness of the lines, and the detail achieved, speak to the skill of the etcher and the precision of their tools. Consider the social context of this image: it represents not just a building, but a way of life afforded by wealth and power. The palace itself was a site of tremendous labor, from the quarrying of stone to the meticulous construction. The print, in turn, makes that world accessible to a wider audience, albeit in a mediated form. It is a reminder that all images, even seemingly straightforward depictions, are the product of many hands, and complex systems of production.