Album met voorstellingen van landschappen, deugden en ondeugden en het leven van Christus 1670 - 1682

This is an album of prints, made by Melchior Küsel in the 17th century. The prints themselves are made with the intaglio technique – that is, the image is incised into a metal plate, and then ink is applied, and the plate is pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the subtle variations in line weight that this process allows. The crispness of the lines gives the scenes depicted a sense of clarity. The album format itself is important. It suggests an active process of collecting and arranging images, perhaps for study, pleasure, or as a display of one's knowledge and taste. Consider the labor involved, not just in the artist’s studio, but also in the paper-making, ink production, and bookbinding. These processes were highly developed by the 17th century. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can understand the cultural significance of this album and the broader world of 17th-century printmaking.