Titelprent van Boek 1 van De Ystroom (1671) van Antonides van der Goes 1671

Romeyn de Hooghe made this title print in 1671 for the first book of Antonides van der Goes's "De Ystroom," using etching and engraving. These techniques involve covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawing through it to expose the metal, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites away the exposed lines. The fine, precise lines create a scene teeming with figures and drama, the textures varying from the smooth skin of the figures to the turbulent clouds above. The laborious process, requiring careful control and skilled handwork, reflects the cultural value placed on craftsmanship during the Dutch Golden Age. Prints like these were crucial in disseminating knowledge and culture, acting as a bridge between the artist’s vision, the writer’s words, and the wider public. In essence, this print embodies the fusion of craft and art, serving both decorative and functional purposes in its time.