In October 2004, the Art Technological Source Research study group held a symposium at the Instituut Collectie Nederland, Amsterdam: Approaching the Art of the Past: Sources & Reconstructions. It was held to discuss the role of source research and the use of reconstructions in the field of art technological research.

Etching, the origins of which as an intaglio technique can be traced back to the beginning of the 16th century, unfolded its full glory in the 17th century. Famous engravers such as Albrecht Dürer had rejected etching as an inferior technique to copperplate engraving, but a century later it experienced its Baroque heyday. The etching technique owes its albeit late success to the freedom of its lines. Unlike the laborious method of copperplate engraving, the artist’s hand can playfully transpose the drawing onto the etching plate with ease. This catalogue provides fascinating insights into the working processes and aesthetics of Baroque printmaking. The focus is on works by three artists who excelled in the etching technique: Jacques Callot, Stefano della Bella and Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. New state of research on Baroque etching