Kathedraal en de toren Giralda te Sevilla 1694 - 1737

This print of the Cathedral and Giralda Tower in Seville was made by Pieter van den Berge, likely using an etching process. The image is produced by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then pressing it onto paper. The quality of line suggests the use of acid to bite the image, rather than direct engraving with a tool. Consider the labor involved: from the mining of the metal, to its processing, the skilled work of the printmaker, and the operation of the press. The subtle color, added by hand, speaks to another layer of artisanry. Although this print depicts a grand architectural achievement, its own making is a more humble affair. Prints like this were a vital form of visual communication in the early modern period, allowing views of distant places to be widely disseminated. The print medium democratizes images, connecting viewers to a broader world. It prompts us to reflect on how the means of production shape our experience of art, and our understanding of culture itself.