Tekstblad bij boekillustratie 1723

This illustration was created by Roeland van Leuve, using a printmaking technique, likely etching or engraving. These processes involve meticulously incising an image into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then transferring the image to paper under high pressure. The image is made up of four numbered buildings. The fine lines that define the architectural details speak to the precision and skill required of the printmaker, and also the time. The process is labor intensive: each line is a direct result of the artist's hand and eye. In its time, a print like this would have been relatively accessible. The reproductive nature of printmaking democratized images, making them available to a wider audience beyond the elite. This aligns with the rise of mercantile culture, in which information and visual representation played an increasingly important role. Considering the materiality and making of this book illustration allows us to appreciate its social and cultural significance beyond its aesthetic qualities.