Optical view
Port of Antwerp published by Basset. ca. 1780.
Optical View (French: Vue d'optique)
An optical view is a type of 18th-century hand-coloured engraved print to be viewed through a special optical device. It depicts architectural, city, or landscape scenes and is designed to give a strong illusion of depth and perspective when seen through a magnifying lens or viewing box. Characteristic of an optical view is the reversed inscription: The titles or captions were often printed backwards, because the viewing device used a mirror that would flip the image right-side up again. The artists enhanced depth with bold converging lines and bright colours. The optical views were used for popular entertainment and education, a way for people to "travel" visually. They originated in France and England around the 1740s and became fashionable across Europe. They were often sold by travelling print sellers or displayed in fairs and parlours.
Vue perspective de l'Embouchure de l'Escaut et de la Poissonnerie d'Anvers.
Item Number: 17483 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Belgium - Cities
Perspective view of Antwerp (Antwerpen), published by Basset.
Title: Vue perspective de l'Embouchure de l'Escaut et de la Poissonnerie d'Anvers.
A Paris chez Basset Rue St. Jaques.
Date: ca. 1780.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Image size: 295 x 400mm (11.61 x 15.75 inches).
Sheet size: 330 x 470mm (12.99 x 18.5 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Original coloured, excellent.
Condition Rating: A+.
Separate publication.
Optical View (French: Vue d'optique)
An optical view is a type of 18th-century hand-coloured engraved print to be viewed through a special optical device. It depicts architectural, city, or landscape scenes and is designed to give a strong illusion of depth and perspective when seen through a magnifying lens or viewing box. Characteristic of an optical view is the reversed inscription: The titles or captions were often printed backwards, because the viewing device used a mirror that would flip the image right-side up again. The artists enhanced depth with bold converging lines and bright colours. The optical views were used for popular entertainment and education, a way for people to "travel" visually. They originated in France and England around the 1740s and became fashionable across Europe. They were often sold by travelling print sellers or displayed in fairs and parlours.
Related items
Domus Senatoria Urbis Antverpiae 1652
City Hall of Antwerp, by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 17590]
One of Antwerp's most beautiful maps
Marchionatus Sacri Romani Imperii. c. 1760
Antwerp, by Nicolaes Visscher I, published by Petrus Schenk Jr.
[Item number: 31137]
Hantwerpen. 1616
Antwerp (Antwerpen), by Lodovico Guicciardini.
[Item number: 31167]
Antwerpen. 1686
Antwerpen by Christoph Riegel.
[Item number: 31503]
Antwerpen 1659
Antwerp by C. Merian.
[Item number: 31845]
Le Pourtraict de la tres noble ville d'Anvers, ainsi qu'elle se comporte a present. 1575
Antwerp (Antwerpen), by François de Belleforest.
[Item number: 31871]
Marchionatus Sacri Romani Imperii. 1617
Antwerp (Antwerpen), by Petrus Kaerius.
[Item number: 32003]