Other Prints · 18th century
€ 450
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good. Some soiling mainly around the lower plate mark. Two plates joined with the vertical line visible. Please study the images carefully.
Original antique engraving of 'Westras' or Västerås in Sweden
The location referred to in the print is likely "Westras," which seems to be a historic name or variant spelling related to the city of Västerås in Sweden. Västerås is situated in central Sweden on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province of Västmanland, approximately 100 kilometers west of Stockholm. It is a city with deep historical roots and was an important urban center even during the period depicted in the engraving. The city today is a blend of its rich history and modern innovation, featuring both well-preserved landmarks from its past and contemporary cultural and technological developments.
It is an authentic copper engraving made from two plates. The artist responsible for this work is Jan van Aveelen, who was born in Leiden in 1650 and died in Stockholm in 1727. The engraving is printed on handmade paper and typographically marked and dated "1701" beneath the image. Additionally, it is titled in the plate and originates from "Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna," a significant work by Erik Jönsson Dahlberg, documenting the historical and contemporary landscapes of Sweden between 1693 and 1714.
The decorative sheet is noted to have two vertical, smoothed fold lines down the center, likely due to the size of the print and its handling over time, and it exhibits some creasing due to the same reasons.
Jan van den Aveele or Aveelen (Leiden , Dutch Republic, c. 1650 - Stockholm, Sweden, 18 May 1727) was a Dutch etcher and copper engraver.
With compatriot Willem Swidde, he made engravings for Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna ("Ancient and Modern Sweden") including depictions of public buildings and city scapes in Stockholm and other Swedish cities.
Some of his works make use of sequential illustrations, making him an early example of a prototypical comic artist.
