De Kleine Hagen (blad met deel boven-, onder- en zijkant van rand) 1675

This print, De Kleine Hagen, was made in the Netherlands by Christiaan Hagen, sometime before 1707. It's made from etching, a printmaking technique using acid to corrode a design into a metal plate. Hagen skillfully captures the architectural landscape of his time. The linear precision of the etching brings out the details of each building, from the grand churches to the sturdy city gates and windmills. Look at the clarity with which Hagen depicts the facades, noting the texture of the stone and the angle of the light. The printmaking process allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, reflecting the burgeoning culture of commerce and consumption in the Dutch Golden Age. It also speaks to the skilled labor involved in creating these images, from the artist's initial design to the craftsman's execution of the etching process. Considering the materials, process, and social context encourages us to rethink the boundaries between art and craft and to appreciate the labor and techniques that bring an artwork to life.